CENTC with University of Washington GEAR-UP at Yakima Valley Science Festival
Paws on Science at Pacific Science Center
Teaching the chemistry of combustion at Roosevelt High School
20% of crude oil is used for non-fuel purposes.
"Chemists- Catalysts for Change" exhibit at Pacific Science Center, 2011
CENTC research highlighted in "Chemists- Catalysts for Change" exhibit at Pacific Science Center, 2011
FEMMES at University of Michigan
CENTC researchers share their work through hands-on activities and conversations through Scientist Spotlight at Pacific Science Center
High school outreach
The goal of the chemistry that CENTC is doing is to find new ways to make cleaner fuels and to make fuels and other important chemicals from renewable sources, like wood and agricultural products, and from natural gas. Improvements in making these materials are important to building a more sustainable future.
CENTC is committed to teaching the value of our work and the importance of catalysis and chemistry in daily life. Learn about how we connect with kids and adults through activities at science centers, high school-university visits, and other programs below.
CENTC’s high school outreach programs are student/post-doc driven, serving both as a core training activity for our students and as a community outreach activity connecting high school students with enthusiastic young chemists.
The LEEDAR (Learning Enhanced through Experimental Design and Analysis with Rutgers) Program is an interactive program that integrates outreach and mentoring with education on greenhouse gases and global warning.
Graduate students and post-doctoral fellows have developed a three-day program on biofuels for physical sciences and chemistry classes. The program is designed to support and enhance the curriculum currently taught in high school chemistry, and also to convey the broad impact of chemistry and the role of chemists in solving major issues of societal importance.
FEMMES (Females Excelling More in Math Engineering and the Sciences) uses engaging, hands-on activities presented in a fun, supportive environment to encourage girls to learn and explore their potential in science, technology, math and engineering (STEM). FEMMES uses female role models to demonstrate how women can, and do, excel in these fields. CENTC faculty and students at the University of Michigan present colorful chemistry demonstrations to girls from inner-city schools from Detroit and Flint, attending the FEMMES capstone events at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Each spring the Pacific Science Center in Seattle and the University of Washington collaborate to bring research scientists to the Science Center for a weekend of engaging activities. CENTC faculty, students and postdocs have brought CENTC research to Paws on Science visitors annually through hands-on activities and games relating to catalysis and green chemistry.
A new component of the Liberty Science Center (LSC) "Energy Quest" exhibit focuses on the importance of petrochemicals in the manufacture of common materials such as plastics, pharmaceuticals, clothing and toys. CENTC partnered with LSC to develop “Molecule Magic,” an interactive media table program designed to allow users to create chemical pathways to take raw fossil fuel materials and turn them into specific familiar products (e.g., aspirin, dolls, shampoo, lipstick, shoes, etc.).
In 2011 CENTC partnered with the Pacific Science Center (PSC) to develop an exhibit in acknowledgement of the International Year of Chemistry. "Chemists – Catalysts for Change". The exhibit showcased CENTC research at the University of Washington, which focused on catalysis and its role in developing more sustainable methods of manufacturing the many petroleum products society depends on (fuels, medicines, plastics, etc.). The exhibit featured hands-on activities, a multitouch table, interesting artifacts, videos and in-person "Scientist Spotlights" featuring CENTC scientists.
In 2016 the partnership continues with an updated and redesigned "Chemists – Catalysts for Change". The current exhibit will be on the floor from March 19 - September 5, 2016.
The CENTC alkane metathesis project provided the foundation for an educational module, “Today’s Chemistry, Tomorrow’s Fuels” which was developed by the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
© 2007 - 2024 Center for Enabling New Technologies Through Catalysis
centcweb@u.washington.edu
This work was supported by NSF under the CCI Center for Enabling New Technologies Through Catalysis, CHE-1205189. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation (NSF).
