2003 ChemLuminary Award Nominations
Award Category: Outstanding Continuing NCW Event
The Chicago Section's main event over the years for National Chemistry Week has been its celebration of Chemistry Day. This event is aimed primarily at disadvantaged children in the city and the venue is usually either a museum or university campus readily accessible by public transportation. Over the past three years it has been held at the Adler Planetarium and most recently at the University of Illinois Chicago. Our hosts have always been most gracious and cooperative, and this year was no exception.
Our 2003 celebration was similar to previous ones with a few new additions. As always, we had an exhibit area with various industrial, governmental and academic representatives from twenty different organizations. Many of these had demonstrations, and materials to give to the children; some even had hands-on activities for them. At times, it was impossible to move about this area.
Tables were located throughout the building with high school teachers performing demonstrations, often assisted by their own students. The children never knew what they would find around the next corner.
At other locations in the building, children were carrying out hands-on activities supervised by volunteers, many of whom were student affiliates. These activities included the classic "pH is pHun" with household materials and circular chromatography. In addition to our usual poster contest, this year we also ran a poetry contest for the children. Also new this year, Boy Scouts had the opportunity to work on a science activity patch and several did so.
For the older students, there were presentations on various aspects of the theme "The Earth's Atmosphere and Beyond". The topics ranged from air pollution to automobile catalytic converters to chemistry and space exploration. These talks were very well attended with about 70 at each one.
The day ended with a grand finale of demonstrations, many of which related to a Halloween theme. Around 200 children and students stayed until 2 PM for this special performance.
Attendance this year was higher than it had been in the past. Approximately 1500 people came, children and students, some accompanied by parents, some by teachers. The previous two years had attendance in the range of 1100-1200. We attribute this increase to two factors related to our publicity efforts - we distributed a Spanish language version of the flyer and we contacted all science teachers in the Chicago Public Schools system.
Volunteers numbered about 160 and included members, nonmembers, student affiliates and high school students. They manned the exhibits, the information desk, supervised activities, gave demonstrations and presentations. Chemistry Day would have been impossible without their efforts and those of the planning committee members. Several companies also donated materials and financial support for the celebration. The teachers who volunteered were presented with CDs of our Chem Shorts for Kids columns; the speakers received our special "Chicago" T-shirts and everyone our effusive thanks.
With the exception of some items mentioned above, much the same could be said about our Chemistry Day activities in previous years. This is a format that we have demonstrated works well for our Section and is greatly appreciated by the children and students who attend, their parents and teachers.
2/26/04
