Giving Back: Researchers help the “Chem Kids” tackle organic chemistry in UCLA children’s camp

Posted on

Chem Kids 2024

In partnership with UCLA’s Recreation Summer Camps, Professor Neil Garg and members of his research team held their second annual, week-long summer program called “Chem Kids”.

The camp provides a forum for children ages 10-12 in Los Angeles to learn the basics of organic chemistry through a host of activities. This includes hands-on teaching of concepts typically taught at the college level, such as valence electrons, structural geometries, bond line structures, and assigning stereocenters.  Read about the 2023 Chem Kids Camp here.

Volunteers and students pose for a group photo on the last day of the 2024 camp.

The camp also seeks to nurture scientific curiosity at a young age through hands-on activities and playing brain games. For example, the campers extracted DNA from strawberries, made butterfly wings to explore the concept of chirality, and learned to solve various types of Rubik’s cubes.  

Arismel Tena Meza and Laura Wonilowicz from Garg’s lab recently published a manuscript on the Chem Kids camp in Nature Reviews Chemistry: Organic Chemistry for Kids.

Eleven UCLA researchers volunteered their time to prepare for and lead the 2024 Chem Kids camp.  Garg praises them for their leadership and their commitment to inspiring the next generation, despite their countless other obligations.

Comments from the 2023 and 2024 UCLA camp volunteers, featured below, embody the spirit of UCLA and our department.

“I volunteer my time to teach organic chemistry to children because I am passionate about showing that the subject can be both enjoyable and accessible at any stage of your life! Broadly speaking, I believe that engaging in science outreach initiatives with young children is essential for addressing the gaps in the STEM pipeline. By fostering early interest and understanding in science concepts, we can help ensure a more diverse participation in these fields.”

Arismel Tena Meza, Graduate Student

“We started Chem Kids in 2023 and were delighted to see how much the campers enjoyed it. It is so exciting to see it continue on this year and provide more students with engaging chemistry material.”

Dr. Laura G. Wonilowicz, Ph.D. ‘24, Garg Group Alumna

“My favorite part of the camp was being able to present the kids with a challenging chemistry concept, and help them struggle through it and master it! That was incredibly cool to see.”

Georgia Scherer, Graduate Student

“I devote time to STEM outreach in graduate school because participating in STEM outreach events as a kid really inspired me to become a scientist. I vividly recall the various Science Days I attended and all the lively demonstrations in elementary school, and left feeling motivated to learn and discover.”

Daniel Turner, Graduate Student

“As a graduate student it is easy to become obsessed with the details of your specific research project. Doing outreach allows me to see the bigger picture of how organic chemistry is important for society. It also connects me to the original key concepts that made me fall in love with science at a young age.“

Allison Hands, Graduate Student

“We all learned a ton from putting together and executing the Chem Kids activities. A major place of learning here was how to organize activities that are just the right difficulty and entertainment level for our campers, while still ensuring that they are valuable learning experiences.”

– Zachary Walters, Graduate Student

“I volunteered my time for Kids Camp because getting kids excited about science is essential! Even though we focus on organic chemistry in the camp, we are ultimately showing kids how to problem-solve and think outside the box.”

– Giulianna Miseo, Graduate Student

“I want to give back and inspire other middle-school age students to pursue chemistry and learn more about it. I love seeing kids understand the chemistry that they are learning and how it impacts the world around them.”

Lauren Van Auken, Undergraduate Student Researcher

“I hope these kids may be inspired to consider the physical sciences in the future. It’s amazing to see that even 10-year-olds can grasp university-level content, and I would love to see other groups and campuses launch similar initiatives!”

– Sarah French, Postdoctoral Researcher

“I believe STEM outreach is critical for building a diverse environment in the field. It allows individuals to explore career opportunities that might otherwise seem out of reach.”

– Christina Rivera, Graduate Student

“I was heavily involved in STEM outreach as an undergraduate student and it has been very important to me to continue to educate the next generation of scientists.  I think it is important that we create environments for children where discovery and learning are fostered.”

– Ben Janda, Graduate Student

“I volunteer my time teaching Organic Chemistry because I want to help reduce the fear surrounding the subject’s difficulty. While chemistry is challenging, introducing students to the ‘fun’ aspects of it at a young age can spark interest and make it less intimidating.”

Allison Clark, Graduate Student

“I devote my time and effort to STEM outreach because I love sharing my passion for science and learning new things. All of the youth that I have interacted with in the broader Los Angeles community are incredibly smart and inspiring and it is gratifying to find new ways to get them excited about organic chemistry, problem-solving, and education.”

Dominick Witkowski, Graduate Student

Questions about Chem Kids can be directed to Professor Neil Garg, neilgarg@chem.ucla.edu.