Volunteers Needed!
NOBCChE STEM Fest is Saturday, September 19, from 10 am to 2 pm in Cincinnati, and we are looking for volunteers to run hands-on demonstrations for K to 12 students and their families.
Here is what that looks like. You get a table. Students rotate through in small groups, you run a short activity, and you talk with them about the science behind it. Most demos run five to ten minutes and repeat throughout the day. You do not need to be a chemist, and you do not need a lab. Some of the best tables are simple activities run by people who are excited to explain them.
No idea yet? Reach out anyway.
Email Dee Wallace at dee.wallace@nobcche.org and she will help you find an activity that fits your group, your comfort level, and the ages you want to reach. Not having an idea is not a reason to sit this one out.
If you are interested, here is what to expect once you commit:
- You submit a short sign up form with your demo idea.
- You complete a RAMP safety assessment, which is a standard four part chemical safety review. We will walk you through it. Don’t know what RAMP is?! Check out this short video or infographic here.
- You provide a link to a Safety Data Sheet for any chemical you bring, and an inventory with amounts, and concentrations.
- You create a written procedure.
- You show up, bring your own materials, serve the community and take everything home with you!
The safety paperwork is real, and we ask for it early because the venue reviews what comes into the building. It is manageable, and we are not going to leave you to figure it out alone.
A few things we cannot allow anywhere on the floor: open flames or sparks, projectiles, and anything that produces fumes. Keep that in mind while you are thinking, and plan on household chemicals wherever possible.
Interested? Get your ideas together and complete the form by September 13!
We look forward to working with you in the coming weeks!