The UCLA Chemistry & Biochemistry students visited the local elementary school to demonstrate experiments with a Halloween theme.
At the outreach event at the Warner Avenue Elementary School on October 30, 2018, members of Professor Neil Garg‘s group talked to the children about the chemical beta-carotene and how it makes pumpkins (and other vegetables) orange. They talked about safety, dry ice, phases of matter, and made ‘spooky pumpkins’ using dry ice and water inside carved pumpkins. The children wore lab coats, safety glasses, and mittens so they could manipulate the dry ice for themselves. Garg’s 6-year-old daughter Kaylie was on hand to help with the demonstrations.
The UCLA organic chemistry graduate student participants were Jason Chari, Francesca Ippoliti, Andrew Kelleghan, Rachel Knapp, Milauni Mehta, Angel Mendoza, Darsheed Mustafa, and Katie Spence. Undergraduate Melinda Nguyen also participated.
Garg group members Rachel Knapp, Jason Chari, Milauni Mehta, Andrew Kelleghan, Katie Spence, Melinda Nguyen, Darsheed Mustafa, Francesca Ippoliti, and undergraduate Angel Mendoza.
(Left) At the outreach event at the Warner Avenue Elementary School, the UCLA students talked to the children about the chemical beta-carotene and how it makes pumpkins (and other veggies) orange. (Right) Kaylie Garg poses with a “spooky pumpkin”.
The students made ‘spooky pumpkins’ using dry ice and water inside carved pumpkins.
The children wore lab coats, safety glasses, and mittens so they could manipulate the dry ice for themselves.
Photos courtesy of Professor Neil Garg.
