KU chemistry club: Spreading chemistry through community outreach and undergraduate engagement | Poster Board #584

The University of Kansas (KU) Chemistry Club is focused on community outreach, member enrichment, and professional development through general meetings and volunteering events. The KU Chem Club strives to support its members and foster community through our general meeting events such as trivia nights, graduate and student led panels, and research lab tours. The club interfaces frequently with the Lawrence area through a multitude of outreach events at local school science nights where we mobilize our chemistry demonstrations to get the kids excited about chemistry! Most of our work is funded through annual sales of high-quality goggles which supports the effort to keep KU students safe in laboratory courses. Our flagship outreach event is called the “Carnival of Chemistry,” which brings 300-400 local elementary-aged kids into Gray-Little Hall each year to experience various hands-on science activities and demonstrations. In the past year we have achieved our primary directive to spread the fun and importance of chemistry while simultaneously developing an active and knowlegeable collegiate community.