If your kids are going to get hooked on science, there’s a good chance that color-changing bracelets, glow sticks and lava lamps will be the hook.

And this makes Saturday a good day for education.

Undergraduates attending West Virginia University’s Summer Undergraduate Research Experiences will be demonstrating fun and interactive aspects of scientific properties during the MedExpress Kids’ Day to be held Saturday, July 20, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in downtown Morgantown.

During the event, children in the community will have a chance to learn science in a hands-on way through learning about the chemistry behind glow sticks, why oil and water form layers in a “lava” lamp and how ultraviolet beads change color when near different levels of sun protection lotion.

They’ll also get to learn about the study of insects and the nano-scale world of very small particles.

Michelle Richards-Babb, an associate professor in the C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, said approximately 20 students from the STEM and Honors summer undergraduate research experiences will be leading area children through the activities. Richards-Babb directs the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) SURE program. Honors Dean Keith Garbutt directs the Honors SURE program.

The college students are themselves spending time this summer researching various topics in departments across the University.

-WVU-

dm/07/18/13

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