ACS Kids Zone
ACS Kids Zones are events that feature science activities conducted by ACS members to teach the public about the importance of chemistry.
Upcoming Event
ACS Kids Zone - Chemists Catalyze Change
Presidential Outreach Event, ACS Fall 2021
Saturday, Aug. 21, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. ET
Georgia Aquarium, Oceans Ballroom Entrance, Atlanta, GA
Chemists are catalysts for positive scientific and social change in communities everywhere! The ACS Committee on Community Activities and ACS President H. N. Cheng along with partners ACS Georgia Local Section, Spelman College Chemistry Club, and others are hosting a free hands-on science event in celebration of the theme, Chemists Catalyze Change.
During a scheduled one hour-long shift, attendees will:
- Take part in engaging hands-on science activities
- Interview scientists at Meet a Chemist tables
- Learn how to advocate for chemistry
- Watch a short interactive play at the chemistry theater, called “Choose that Catalyst”
This free event includes free admission to the Georgia Aqaurium.
To promote the safety of everyone at the ACS Fall 2021 Meeting and related events including the ACS Kids Zone, ACS has developed an Attendee Safety Plan that will follow the CDC, State of Georgia, Georgia Department of Public Health, Georgia World Congress Center and other local regulations regarding COVID safety practices. ACS may change its practices to account for changes in government health-related COVID-19 directives. Attendees should become familiar with the Attendee Safety Plan as well as the Georgia Aquarium safety measures prior to attending this event, and will need to sign the ACS Kids Zone Attendee Acknowledgment upon registration.
Recent Event
Virtual ACS Kids Zone - Earth Day 2021
Reducing Our Footprint with Macromolecular Chemistry
Watch the recorded #ACSKidsZone event, hosted by Sam Jones, science communicator and host of Reactions for Chemists Celebrate Earth Week and Earth Day 2021. Conduct hands-on activities with popular STEM advocates around the educational theme, "Reducing Our Footprint with Macromolecular Chemistry."
This event is offered in English with closed captioning in Spanish and Chinese. Download the materials list and activity sheets in all three languages below. Don't forget to share your photos on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook with the hashtag #ACSKidsZone!
Materials List
Download the materials list for all three activities to follow along with the presenters as you watch the event recording. Each of the activity write-ups are available below, with supplemental resources to take a deeper dive into the chemistry concepts.
Activity 1: Reduce Your Footprint with Shrinky Dinks
Presented by: Greglynn Gibbs, Chemistry Research Technologist & Lab Manager, Penn State Berks
Learn about very long chains of molecules called polymers, and explore plastics, a type of polymer that you may have come across. Then, reduce your plastic waste by making your own shrinky dink crafts using leftover polystyrene food packaging, also known as #6 plastic.
Deeper Dive
Activity 2: Cleaning Up Oil Spills with Chemistry
Presented by: Dyani Melgarejo, Chemistry Student, San Diego City College
In the event of an environmental disaster like an oil spill, chemistry comes to the rescue. Compare methods for cleaning up oil spills, some using chemistry, some not, then discuss the environmental impacts of your footprint.
Deeper Dive
Activity 3: Choose and Reuse Compostable Plastics
Presented by: T. Greg Tucker, Intellectual Property Technical Specialist, Skysong Innovations, Arizona State University
Fishing bait bags are useful in solving the problem of getting fishing bait to the river bottom where carp and other bottom-dwelling fish live, but typical nylon bait bags are harmful to the environment. Explore the different properties and uses of plastics with a dissolvable alternative to nylon bags and see how chemistry can solve this environmental problem.
Deeper Dive
Contact the ACS Office of Science Outreach
outreach@acs.org
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