Imagine over 1,200 fourth, fifth and sixth grade kids each doing eight science experiments in one day. Many science teachers dread the logistics of having one class of thirty do a lab experiment, which is one of the reasons our nation is behind others in science education. But '97 Fellow Donna Fujimoto Cole, President of Cole Chemical, fearlessly went where many fear to tread. She organized a hands-on science lab extravaganza at Aldine Independent School District (AISD) in Houston called "Building a Pipeline for the Sciences." The goal was to turn students on to the excitement of science in hopes that more will pursue education and careers in science-related fields.

Nearly a hundred middle and high school students aided by fifty teachers and thirty-five volunteers from the University of Houston Smart Center, and the chemical, and oil industry taught the younger students to do experiments at eight stations around the cafeteria. Each of the kids was given a brown paper bag to carry their completed experiments and a "passport" to have stamped at each station. They moved in groups, spending about fifteen minutes on each experiment.

They learned to separate colors using chromatography, prepare an elastic ball of "glurch" from two compounds, biorient and heat pictures drawn on sheets of polystyrene to create "shrinky dinks," and test for pH. They skewered balloons without popping them to understand the elastic qualities of polymer strands, mixed chemicals in a sealed plastic bag which grew and warmed as the reaction occurred, and watched an adult demonstration on temperature and pressure changes in which a can collapsed with a "pop." Last they learned how to write secret messages that were revealed only with the application of glass cleaner.

Kids then traded their completed passports for golf shirts with the emblem "Building a Pipeline for the Sciences" and the school district's name. They were given snacks and shown a chemical video "Jason's Journey" before returning to their schools via bus.

The students come from an economically challenged school district. 83% are African American or Hispanic, 10% are white and 7% are Asian American. Donna reported that the kids were well behaved and mesmerized by the experiments. Their comments included, "This is the best Saturday of my life!" and "Can we do this again?"

Yes we can, says Donna. Two other school districts are interested in the program, and AISD wants to repeat it next year. They are developing a procedure manual to use in multiple settings and looking for donations and support to continue the program. A "You be the Chemist Kit" was given to each teacher to continue the education process back in the classroom. Additional chemical industry information will be sent to schools that participate, such as the new "ChemiPalooza" an interactive CD-ROM for junior high and high school students.

Everyone's heart was obviously captured by the children. As Donna recalls, "One little girl-with all the patience in the world-worked with five balloons before she was able to run the skewer through without popping the balloon. I don't have to tell you the size of her smile when she succeeded &One day some of these students may go to college and major in math or science. Maybe they will be the scientists that cure cancer or develop new technology to improve the quality of future generations' lives."