They were learning how antibodies help stave off bacteria and viruses.
“It taught us how when you get sick, the antibiotics work in your body to make you better,” Brittany said.
It was one of more than a dozen experiments set up inside of the Robert “Sonny” Hill Jr. Community Center on Thursday, Feb. 18, as part of what organizers dubbed a family science event.
Dr. Susan Hershberger, director of the Center for Chemistry Education at Miami University Middletown, said the event was planned to get students and their family members actively involved in learning about material science, chemistry and physics.
“It’s a great family activity,” Hershberger said. “Usually parents come along with their kids, can read a handout at each station and then do the experiment as a family.”
At least seven faculty members and 30 student volunteers helped man the various booths, according to Hershberger.
Attendees were able to learn about chromatography by separating colors out of pen ink and could try their hand at forcing wooden skewers through balloons without popping them — as it turned out, a gob of Vaseline was the secret.
Lisa Back, a second-year student studying education at MUM, volunteered to help teach kids about weighted geometrics through balancing paper butterflies on pegs. She helped the kids determine where to place paperclips to make the faux butterflies balance without any assistance.
“A lot of this is actually stuff we could eventually do in our classrooms,” Back said.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2871 or rgauthier@coxohio.com.
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