Magnetic cars & marshmallows
Kids, parents learn basics from college students — and have a little fun
Kids raced cars (with magnets). They gazed at the sun (through a telescope with a protective lens). And they snuck bites of licorice and marshmallows (while making strands of DNA).
It was the third annual Science Sunday at Regis University, and roughly 650 kids from those in strollers to teens in high school and parents meandered three floors and a courtyard of science activities created and run by college students.
The event had a dual purpose: It offered the community a way to engage kids with science and it taught university students how to communicate what they’ve learned to others. And each year it gets bigger and bigger.
“I came to see what the world is made of and how things are formed and more,” gushed sixyear-old Stapleton resident Noelle Osbourne-Roberts.
She was joined by her 9-yearold brother and parents. Her brother Keston Osbourne-Roberts had been hesitant to come at first. That changed when he heard there would be virtual reality — “it might be the future of our systems.” But Noelle has been excited since the beginning.
The elementary schooler likes science — all of it. She couldn’t pick a favorite subject. Her dad, Tamaan Osbourne-Roberts, affectionately referred to her as his science princess.
Tamaan Osbourne-Roberts, a family doctor and chief medical officer at the Center for Improving Value in Health Care, said he used to go to events like this when he was a kid and liked seeing his kids take part. Camille Osbourne-Roberts, the kids’ mother, similar said it was nice for there to be a free educational event in the community.
“They look around with the same look in their eyes like I’m sure I did,” he said.
On the third floor, sisters Maura Plavnick, 8½, and Sylvia Plavnick, 6½ , played with household items like tonic water and cabbage juice to make different shades of colors, learning about acids and bases while they were at it.
The sisters, who live near Regis, have been going to Science Sunday since it started, their dad Matt Plavnick said. Sylvia fondly reflected on the first year, saying she learned “you can make rockets explode with baking soda and something else.” The two said they liked the day and science.
“You don’t have to sit at a desk all day,” Maura said.
Quyen Hart, the founder of the event, ran through the halls, checking on students and making sure everything ran smoothly. An assistant professor with a doctorate in astrophysical and planetary sciences, she wore shooting star earrings and a shirt with mini stars and moons. Stopping for a second in the courtyard, she took a second to chat while still making sure to welcome people as they headed inside.
Four years ago, Hart’s friend who worked at the White House held an astronomy night. The friend wanted universities to participate so Hart decided to have her students throw their own astronomy night. Although the turnout wasn’t huge, the students absolutely loved it, she said.
Inspired, Hart said she thought it was worth trying the event on a bigger scale. So three years ago, she teamed up with the neuroscience and physics departments to host the first Science Sunday.
A crowd of about 500 showed up. The next year and this year there were about 650.
Between 80 and 90 students run 33 activities, she said. Many will make up their activities as part of their class requirements. But there are also biology, chemistry and science clubs that host booths. This year was the first time Hart incorporated a speaker series with faculty — something for the grandparents and older teens to enjoy.
It was also the first time an industry partner participated. Centennial-based United Launch Alliance’s Women in Launch let kids wear VR headsets and watch a rocket launch or explore the International Space Station. (Keston Osbourne-Roberts demanded that his family visit this booth first.)
Hart said she took care to make sure women and people of color were represented both in the speakers and videos shown in one of the astronomy rooms. It also helped that the university skews female, so many women were running booths.