In the spirit of all things scientific, occasionally explosive and all-around inspirational, the Texas A&M University Department of Chemistry is gearing up to host the 36th annual edition of one of the most popular educational attractions to be found on the Texas A&M campus.
Texas A&M Chemistry invites science enthusiasts from across the Brazos Valley and the state of Texas to join in celebrating three decades and counting of one of Texas A&M's proudest fall traditions, the Chemistry Open House and Science Exploration Gallery, set for Saturday, Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Texas A&M's West Campus home for all things chemistry — the state-of-the-art Instructional Laboratory & Innovative Learning (ILSQ) Building.
The open house is held annually in conjunction with National Chemistry Week, celebrated this year from Oct. 20 to 26 and centered around the theme, Picture Perfect Chemistry. Attendees can create their own imaging by participating in an onsite 360-degree photo booth that will be set up on the first floor of the ILSQ.
Visitors are encouraged to start their open house experience at the "Welcome" tents outside the front entrance of the ILSQ Building, located on the west side of Wellborn Road directly across the tracks from its sister facility, the Innovative Learning Classroom Building (ILCB), on the corner of Old Main Dr. and Olsen Blvd. Free parking is available in Lots 67, 74, 100t, 100A, 100B and 100C nearby the ILSQ, with additional paid parking to be found in the West Campus Garage.
“We are incredibly excited about this year's theme of Picture Perfect Chemistry," said Dr. Daniel Collins, Organic Program instructional associate professor and event co-organizer. "So much of the great science done in the Chemistry Department through the years has been photographed and well documented, and we want to share that excitement with the community.
"The Chemistry Open House allows families and young students excited about STEM through our halls and highlights the work done by amazing scientists. Equally important, we want to honor the storied program we are. We want parents to have that same excitement watching the Chemistry Roadshow for the first, fifth or 20th time, the thrill of their children doing hands-on demonstrations, and to be able to capture it all in that moment. Most of us have that moment or two when we fell in love with chemistry and science, and having the ability to record one of those moments is truly special. We are so proud of the history of this event, all the amazing scientists before us, and we hope visitors will spend the day with us enjoying science."
Beyond the chance to tour the premier laboratory building in the nation and its spaces dedicated to both general chemistry and organic chemistry and to meet the Texas A&M Chemistry Mole, attendees are encouraged to enjoy hands-on demos, experiments and computer activities as part of the Science Exploration festivities. Additional attractions also will include onsite food trucks and a lunch buffet at Sbisa Dining Hall.
The day-long slate of activities will feature three presentations of the popular Chemistry Road Show (10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m.), which will be held in Room 100 of the adjacent Herman F. Heep Building, located diagonally to the ILSQ and northwest of it on Olsen Blvd. The show is recommended for all ages and includes popular science demonstrations, such as fires, explosions, weird polymers and super-cold materials. Please note that the free color-coded tickets for seating, which can be obtained at the welcome tent, are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis and tend to go quickly.
In addition to faculty, students and staff from the Department of Chemistry, activities and demonstrations also will be presented from various departments throughout the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Engineering and science-based student groups across Texas A&M Arts and Sciences and the broader campus.
The Chemistry Open House and Science Exploration Gallery is sponsored in part by VWR Scientific, McGraw-Hill Education, the Texas A&M College of Arts and Sciences, the Texas A&M University-American Chemical Society Local Chapter and the First Year Program in Chemistry.
See additional photographs from the 2023 event and find more information on the Chemistry Open House website.