SCIENCE OUTREACH

April 2025

Volume 26

Connecting and Enhancing Community Engagement

New In Science Outreach

Spring Into Science 2025

Thank you for supporting the 3^rd annual Science Outreach community-wide signature event.

Spring Into Science on Saturday, April 5

was a HUGE success!

Spring Into Science 2025

Impacting the Community!

Thank you for your support! Spring Into Science 2025 was a huge success. Science Outreach at Princeton University hosted our 3rd annual signature community outreach event, Spring Into Science 2025. Over 800 students engaged in hands-on science enrichment experiences and activities. Students in 4th through 10th grades came from our surrounding community and beyond, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New York.

Angie Miller from the Department of Chemistry had four live explosive chemistry demonstrations. Kevin C. Hudson led a College Access workshop for high school students and their parents.

Spring Into Science was held in the Frick Chemistry Building and the Princeton Neuroscience Institute. There were over 50 science exhibitions, two Escape the Cell rooms, a high-power speedboat from the Office of Sustainability, and treats for students to enjoy. It was an incredible day of science for all the students in our community.

This is the work that matters; it’s all about research, education, and service.

Please visit the Science Outreach website for a complete picture gallery.

We look forward to hosting Spring Into Science 2026!

Thank you to ALL who participated

and supported Spring Into Science 2025!

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month

Volunteers have the power to transform lives and change the world. Science Outreach would not be able to reach hundreds of K-12 students in our surrounding community without the help of volunteers.

How can you make a difference?

Get involved – do more than applaud the work; let your impact speak for itself.

Spread the word – share volunteer opportunities with your colleagues, labs, and others across our campus.

Commit – don’t stand on the sidelines, share your science or a fun activity.

Science Outreach offers weekly opportunities to engage with students from K-12 schools in our community. Thank you to all the Science Outreach volunteers and the Science Outreach Fellows who volunteer in our community each week!

Science Outreach

Volunteers in the Community

Urban Promise

Josh Chandra, a graduate student in PNI led a muscle movement activity with the students at Urban Promise in Trenton. The experience was stimulating.

Urban Promise

Rishika Porandla and the Princeton Civic Leadership Council led the students at Urban Promise through gamified circuit design mission using activity guides and experiments. The students were amazing.

What's Happening On Our Campus

Science Outreach Connecting with

Campus Partners and the Community

Science Outreach Celebrates

World Quantum Physics Day

How did you celebrate World Quantum Physics Day? Science Outreach celebrated by collaborating with campus partners to host a group of 31 students from Science Park High School, a public STEM-focused school in Newark, New Jersey, on our campus. The school offers a rigorous curriculum in science, the arts, and global perspectives.

The students were greeted by Janine Nunes and Sonia Natalias (PCCM). There was an engaging conversation with Prof. Sanfeng Wu, and the students visited research labs and had a hands-on three-polarizer demonstration. After lunch, the students heard research talks from chemistry graduate students in the Schoop research lab. The day ended with a live Chemistry demonstration featuring Angie Miller from the Chemistry department.

Quick Fact: World Quantum Day, observed on April 14, is an annual event that promotes public awareness and understanding of quantum science and technology worldwide.

Thank you to all who supported this experience for the students.

Science Outreach Fellows In the Community

UAF Fellow Leads Robotic Activity at Urban Promise

Maddie Bland, University Administrative Graduate Fellow in Electrical and Computer Engineering, hosted a robotics activity with the students at Urban Promise in Trenton.

Maddie kicked things off by asking students what they thought a robot was—answers included everything from humanoid robots to dishwashers and cell phones. The group explored how robots are used in everyday life and how they "sense" the world around them, just like humans do with our five senses. Students got a chance to pass around tiny drones, watch a mini truck zip around, and test their strength against a robot dog by trying to pull it over with a rope (spoiler: the robot won!). It was an exciting way to see how robots can stay balanced and handle surprises.

The Science Outreach Fellows Host

Science Saturday

Science Outreach offers monthly hands-on activities

at four libraries in our community.

Trenton Free Public Library~Ewing Public Library

Lawrenceville Public Library ~ Princeton Public Library

On April 19 at the Lawrenceville Library, the children learned about acid based exploration and water properties. This hands-on activity was led by Science Outreach Fellow, Davis Hobley. Acids and bases are important components in household products.

Science Outreach Fellow, Meghana Bhupati guided the students at Lawrence Library in a lava lamp building activity with water and oil. The students enjoyed this fun and colorful project. The Fellows are committed to inspiring the next generation of scientists.

Science Outreach Fellow Spotlight

Science Outreach Celebrates

Earth Day

Volunteers Needed for Summer 2025

Are you on campus this summer? Science Outreach volunteers are needed for several upcoming outreach opportunities. Sign up with friends or lab mates. Lyft transportation is available.

Science Outreach Annual Report 2022- 2024

The first Science Outreach Annual Report documents the impact of this newly created science initiative at our university and for K-12 students in our surrounding community and beyond. Science Outreach was created in 2022 to facilitate mutually beneficial and sustainable relationships between Princeton University Science educators and researchers on the one hand, and local K-12 school districts, non-profit organizations, and community stakeholders on the other.

Science Outreach Annual Report 2022- 2024

Science Outreach

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Volunteers Needed for

Spring Semester Outreach Opportunities!

Science community, it’s time to sign up to volunteer for upcoming Science Outreach opportunities this semester. Please indicate your best availability to get involved. K-12 students in our surrounding community are excited to participate in your hands-on, engaging science experiences to increase their awareness and knowledge of science and STEM.

Volunteer opportunities are available at the Trenton Free Public Library, The Ewing Public Library, Lawrenceville Library, Princeton Public Library, Urban Promise, and The Boys and Girls Club.

Let's Track Your Community Outreach

If you, your lab, or your department facilitated an outreach opportunity, please complete the tracking form and upload a photo from your event. We will feature your opportunity in the next edition of the Science Outreach newsletter.