Minot State University science students put on a science open house for area school children last week that they hope will inspire future science majors.
"I'm definitely going to be a scientist now!" one boy told the students, after watching an experiment.
In one lab room, students watched brightly colored smoke briefly flare when burning magnesium was added to dry ice.
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Andrea Johnson/MDN
Elementary students watch a science experiment during a science open house last week at Minot State University’s Cyril Moore Science Center.
A bubble filled with carbon dioxide was large and stable enough for students to hold in their hands.
"They really liked that one," said Bryan Boychek, a physical education major with a chemistry minor.
Sam Wagner, a chemistry major and president of the MSU Science Club, said there were about 20 stations in all, manned by students from the science club.
Kids also enjoyed attending the "magic show" where students and professors performed experiments that kids are generally warned to never do - play with dangerous chemicals, fires and explosions.
The annual open house is attended by third- through sixth-graders from Minot and surrounding-area schools.
Wagner and Boychek said the eye-catching experiments may fire kids' interest in the sciences.
Science is most interesting when it's hands-on, they said.