Science Festival ignites youngsters' STEM-related curiosity

– Photos by Cindy Davis Meixel, writer/photo editor,
and Jennifer A. Cline, writer/magazine editor

During a “Taste of Technology” presentation by Chef Frank M. Suchwala, associate professor of hospitality management/culinary arts, children drop orange soda into a solution that includes alginate (a product of seaweed) to create tasty, caviar-sized spheres.

Suchwala, backed by baking and pastry arts student Jace A. Crowl, of Landenberg, engages the crowd.

Fifth graders from several school districts pack the ACC Auditorium to learn about Sweet and Savory Science, presented by Suchwala and three student assistants: Christopher M. Bashaw, of Jersey Shore; Rachel J. Gobin, of Carlisle; and Crowl.

Before revealing its effects on Teddy Grahams, Suchwala shows the crowd how liquid nitrogen boils and produces vapor at room temperature.

Crowds of fifth-graders cross Third Street as they wrap up a demonstration on electricity by Franklin Institute in the Bardo Gym and head for an equally engaging demonstration on molecular gastronomy by the college’s School of Business & Hospitality.

A Franklin Institute demonstrator starts off a lively lesson with a demonstration of static electricity.

Audience members join the show to futilely try to separate two pieces of steel that moments before would not stick together. The difference? A battery was turned on to create electromagnetism.

The Franklin Institute educator tries to catch a glimpse of her hair as the buildup of electrical charges in a Van de Graaff generator makes it stand on end.

Delighting young guests, the Lycoming County Conservation District's uncharacteristically friendly (and purposefully informative) tick points the way to adventures in science.

The power of water is explored at the Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy table.

Representatives from Larson Design Group (on right) share a laugh with a student. On far right is alumnus Josiah T. Covert, ’18, civil engineering technology, who enjoys a career in bridge design and inspection.

Pig lungs stir awe and engagement at a display hosted by Williamsport Area High School’s Health Professions career and technical education course.

Kemtec and AquaPhoenix Scientific engage young minds in the conductivity of solutions.

Glue, food coloring, corn starch and borax are the ingredients used in the creation of “bouncy balls” at a project sponsored by St. John Neumann Regional Academy.

A youngster eyes a possible future in medical imaging at a display hosted by Penn College’s radiography major.

A timely demonstration in bacteria and the importance of good hand-washing is supplied by West Pharmaceutical Services.

A fifth-grader pulls a core sample from the exploration table staffed by Penn College’s construction management students.

Students enthusiastically compete at a 24-volt traffic signal exhibit designed and built by Penn College electrical majors.

Wide eyes and wonder

Feeling the heat! Guests discover the power of solar panels.

A popular corner of the Field House: SEKISUI SPI thermoforms sheets of plastic into take-home treasures.

Brennan B. Wodrig, program manager for the college’s Plastics Innovation & Resource Center, fields questions for the industry's potential future.

That slime is mine! Kids knead small plastic bags filled with slime solution at an exhibit sponsored by the Society of Plastics Engineers’ PlastiVan program.

Peace out! Fifth-graders' thermal gestures are displayed on PPL Electrical Utilities’ magical monitor, which broadcasts the output from a drone’s infrared camera.