Girls and boys of all ages watched carbonated raisins dance, made film canister rockets and participated in a number of other science projects Thursday evening during Super Science Night in the Cooper Science Building.
The event was put together by Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society, Indiana Science Technology Engineering Mathmatics science faculty and the American Association of University Women as a part of Ball State University's Women's Week.
Muncie resident Christine Rhine brought her 12-year-old daughter, Veronica, to convince her that science doesn't have to be boring.
"She doesn't think she likes science," Rhine said. "I wanted to show her that it can be fun."
Veronica, along with other children who participated in the event, were aided by Ball State chemistry majors and minors in an activity to make their own hand lotion.
"A lot of kids had a bad introduction into the world of science, but once you start seeing all the cool things it can do, you start to enjoy it." Danielle Schmitt, sophomore chemistry major, said. "There aren't a lot of women in science. An event like this encourages them to get involved."
Additionally, the children took part in activities such as making film canister rockets powered by baking soda and water, making colored slime and seeing the positive effects of suntan lotion by painting their nails with polish sensitive to ultra-violet radiation.
Julia Schlenker, field trip coordinator for a local home-schooling organization, used the event as an educational tool.
"An event like this is great, because it gives home-schooled kids the opportunity to participate in scientific activities and experiments that they otherwise would not be able to," she said. "It just wouldn't be possible to organize something like this on our own."
The event had more than 50 children participating in the different science-related activities. This is the third event of its kind that the ISTEM science faculty helped put together this year.
"The sponsors have done a great job in getting kids, and more specifically girls, involved in science," Bianca Mcrae, AAUW Muncie chapter director, said.
The sponsors involved in putting Super Science Night together have another event, mainly for girl scouts, coming up in April. The event will incorporate science and the environment with activities relating to animals and their habitats.
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