So what’s in that stuff? The everyday chemistry that surrounds us.

March 17, 2018
An interactive session led by Francis Webster, Ph.D.

Dr. Webster has taught at Radford University for over two decades interacting with students at all levels. He is a winner of Radford University’s top teaching award, and his research efforts in sustainability have been funded by the National Science Foundation and the Environmental Protection Agency. He is also the creator of the Magic of Chemistry, an age appropriate program focused on fostering a better understanding and appreciation for the role of chemistry in society. Since 2002, hundreds of invited presentations have been given with an outreach team involving Radford University chemistry majors and alumni. The team has engaged over 20,000 students, parents, and teachers in K-12 schools and other informal locations across the state.

Ever been to a fireworks show on the Fourth of July and wondered how those colors and loud bangs are really made? Do you want to know what’s really in those strips that make your teeth so white? How we could make a rocket using Ritz crackers or weld steel with a simple pepperoni stick? What about extinguishing fire with your earwax? We will answer all of these questions and much more as we delve into things around us that are burning hot, frightfully cold, and things from the world of nanotechnology. Through the use of a series of fascinating demonstrations, the science will come alive as you gain a better understanding of the extraordinary chemistry of the ordinary things around us.