The 2nd Annual NCW Celebration at the New York Hall of Science in Queens, N.Y., held on Saturday, October 28th was an astounding success. The demonstrations filled the Great Hall and museum employees counted over 900 visitors at the entrance. Included among the visitors was a group of thirty Girl Scouts and their leaders participating in the sections “Expanding Your Horizons” program coordinated by Education Committee Chair, Dr. Mary Maier, and a large group of children from New York Cares, a non-profit organization serving New York City.

This year’s theme, Your Home It’s All Built on Chemistry, was central to many of the 31 demonstrations, for example, making building materials such as paint, paint polymers and adhesives. Other popular demonstrations were “The Science of Making Soda”, where Pepsi scientists helped participants flavor and color their own custom made sodas, “Fool Your Senses” where participants sorted out how different senses participate in taste, “Mad Scientist Lab Supplies”, where VWR Scientists demonstrated equipment used in chemistry labs, as well as the perennial favorites “Polystyrene Shrinkers”, “Slime”, “Ooblek”, and “Silly Putty®” and “The Crystal Forest”.

According to our participant survey 99% of attendees found the demonstrations fun and interesting and 98% said that they would come back next year. This year 172 Chemists from corporations, universities, high schools, and professional organizations including Pepsi-Cola, St. John's University, Hofstra University, Adelphi University, St. Joseph's College of NY, Manhattan College, Manhattan Village Academy, Pace University, Barnard College (Columbia University), New York University, Citrus and Allied, and VWR Scientific Supply. The event was advertised in newspapers and on the radio (WPLJ, Radio Disney and KJOY).

The New York Section acknowledges the extraordinary effort made by NCW Coordinator David Sherman from Pepsi whose enthusiasm and considerable organizational talents brought together the many volunteers and demonstrations for this event.

NEWSPAPER ARTICLES

REPORT FROM JOAN LAREDO-LIDDELL, CHAIR OF NCW COMMITTEE

PHOTOS

RADIO BROADCAST