Over 80 8th-grade students from Browns River Middle School got to feel like college students at UVM this week. Four different classes came to campus to see demonstrations from the Chemistry and Physics departments, as well as spend some time on campus and see the Davis Center. It's a continuation of a longstanding partnership where the teachers at Browns River have worked to bring their students out, both to engage them in fun science and help them see themselves as college students, either at UVM or elsewhere. 

Professor Luke Donforth in the Physics department worked with lab manager Patrick Charron to run through a year's worth of physics demonstrations: touching on everything from buoyant forces, thermal energy transfers, generators, motors, and multiple ways to mutilate aluminum cans. Dr. Donforth says "We focus on making it fun for them, classics like our ping pong ball cannon, freezing things in liquid nitrogen, etc.; engaging demonstrations where we can sneak some content in". 

Travis Verret, lab manager, and safety officer for the Chemistry department, also put on a show for the visitors. “We set things on fire, make George Washington scream, play dry ice hockey. It's a good time for them and us,” said Verret. He was assisted by chemistry staff members Jacqueline Chant and Kayla Hanscom. One of several outreach events that Verret hosts each year, the middle school visit is always a favorite. 

Both departments take advantage of the quiet time as the campus closes for the holiday break and the students head home after finals. "It's also a fun way to relieve stress and blow off a little steam, and former students will occasionally drop by to catch a demo show and think fondly about their UVM experiences as well as the benefit of not having any associated homework to go with them," said Donforth.

For those not able to make it to campus to see the demos, there are videos from past years up on YouTube.