STEAM Expo Days

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

Use photosynthesis to make plants grow. Manipulate light and carbon dioxide and see, in real time, how this affects photosynthesis. Young festival-goers enjoy blocking the light with their hand and seeing photosynthesis fall, then removing their hand and watching photosynthesis resume instantaneously. Older festival-goers can change light or carbon dioxide concentration in steps to see how this affects photosynthesis. We will have plants that have been used in the space program such as “space wheat” and "microtom" tomatoes.

Learn more about A Hands-On Look at How Climate Change Affects Plants

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age

Seeing is believing. That is why this program will allow pre-K to elementary school-aged children to experiment hands-on with magnifying lens and microscopes so that they can explore the unseen microscopic world of cells and tissues. The program will introduce young children to fun (but powerful) technologies that can reveal the tiny parts that make up us and our surroundings. Children will get to look at prepared microscope slides of animal, insect, fungi, and plant cells/tissues. They can also prepare their own samples of plants, soil, and sand for microscopic viewing. There will also be coloring print-outs and fun sticker handouts for the children.

Learn more about A Kid's-Eye View of the Microscopic World

Appropriate for: Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

Use magnetic marbles representing protons and neutrons to model a nucleus, then smash it to pieces just like scientists at MSU’s Facility for Rare Isotope Beams! FRIB is a world-leading laboratory for creating and studying rare isotopes that don’t exist on Earth. This is your chance to create exotic nuclei and discover more about FRIB research!

Learn more about A Smashing Time with Nuclei at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

Kids can experiment to send their ship rocketing into the air with science!  Alka-Seltzer Rockets celebrates our current traveling exhibit at Impression 5 Science Center, From Here to There. 

Learn more about Alka-Seltzer Rockets

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

Every day we turn on our faucets, showers, dishwashers, laundry machines, and countless other water-dependent conveniences without stopping to consider: Where does all that water come from? For the tri-county region of Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties, 100% of our water comes from below ground. Through a private well or a public utility, we all rely heavily on groundwater. Stop by and learn all about groundwater as we build the region’s Saginaw aquifer in a cup!

Learn more about All About Groundwater: Saginaw's Aquifer in a Cup

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

There is a lot of water in the world but very little of it is safe to drink. Stop by our booth and find out how you can protect Michigan's drinking water as well as water resources immediately around you, in your watershed, in aquatic ecosystems, and beyond! We will have a water trivia game, crafts, and a dazzling groundwater model that shows how the water cycle connects the water above ground that we can see to the water below ground that we cannot see. We will use dyes to show how pollution moves through the water cycle and offer tips on how you can be a water steward. 

Learn more about All Water is Connected and Ours to Protect

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

Animals are amazing! From spots to stripes and horns to teeth, animals are equipped with a wonderful array of adaptations to help them survive in the wild. Join Potter Park Zoo as we explore skulls, pelts, antlers, horns, and teeth and learn about some of the fascinating, cool, and sometimes weird physical and behavioral adaptations found in the animal kingdom.

Learn more about Amazing Animal Adaptations

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

It’s time for the toys to get a check-up! Join the Neuroscience Fair for a hands-on stuffed animal brain scan. 

Learn more about Animal Brain Scanner

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

Compare brain structures across various species.

Learn more about Animal Brains

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

Discover the wonders of life in the water! Develop an understanding of how aquatic habitats are formed, how they sustain life, and why we need to protect these fragile ecosystems. Learn about the plants and animals that call these remarkable habitats home through biofact exploration, live animals displays, and aquatic invertebrate investigations.

Learn more about Aquatic Ecology

Appropriate for: Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

There are over 800 million cats worldwide, with more than half living outdoors. A single unspayed female cat and her offspring can potentially produce thousands of kittens within a few years! This session examines the causes of rapid population growth and the impacts of cat overpopulation on communities. Explore effective management strategies like Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) and using cats for rodent control while discovering ways to support outdoor cats. Learn practical skills, such as creating DIY shelters using simple household materials, to provide essential resources for these cats and promote their well-being. Join us to gain hands-on experience in supporting outdoor cats while addressing population concerns!

Learn more about Are Cats Taking Over the World? How You Can Help

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

Movement plays an important role in our life—from everyday activities like walking, to activities like sports or dance that require years and years of practice. But do you know how well you move? In this presentation, find out how technology helps us understand how to measure human movement and motor skills, and how we can also use this knowledge to help people with movement impairments.

Learn more about Are You the Next Olympic Athlete? Learn How to Measure Movement and Motor Skills

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

Did you know that MSU’s Beal Botanical Garden was once called the “Wild Garden"? Originally, the garden was more natural and focused on native Michigan plant species. By rewilding the garden, we can bring a dose of nature right to the heart of campus. Join us to bring nature home with you! Make a native plant seed bomb or create your own tea bag blend using underappreciated flavors from the garden.

Learn more about Beal: Rewilding and Reconnecting

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

This interactive program showcases how plants defend themselves and adapt to their environments. Participants will explore physical and chemical defenses, observe insects interacting with protected and unprotected plants, and link plant defense chemicals to everyday items like coffee and disinfectants. A Lego challenge lets participants design tomato plants to survive stressors like drought or herbivory. Through hands-on activities, demonstrations, and real-world connections, the program highlights the importance of plant defenses, their ecological roles, and the need for sustainable practices. Fun, accessible, and relevant, it’s perfect for all ages.

Learn more about Botanical Battlegrounds: Adapt, Survive, and Thrive!

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age

Blow bubbles and see if you can balance them on your hands!

Learn more about Bouncing Bubbles

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

Kid Activities: Coloring and games. Relax with some coloring and play!

Learn more about Brain Break

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

The gut has a mind of its own – the enteric nervous system. 

Learn more about Brain in Your Gut

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

Put together all the pieces to make a complete brain!

Learn more about Brain Puzzle

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

Create your own forest using Legos and see how the temperature changes under your trees in different weather conditions. Can you make your forest cooler or warmer? What has the biggest impact: wind, sunlight, or rain? The temperature inside a forest is crucial for the animals and plants that live there, but climate models usually only predict the temperature above the trees, not underneath them. To improve predictions about climate change, we need to better understand this often overlooked area between the ground and the treetops.

Learn more about Build Your Own Forest!

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age

Learn about planets and asteroids! Planets are big and round, while asteroids are small and oddly shaped. Participants will use craft materials to construct their own asteroid to take home, while thinking about the kinds of materials actual asteroids are made from. There will be meteorites for children to look at and to touch, and they will learn about the oldest materials known to humankind.

Learn more about Build Your Own Planet or Asteroid!

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age

Use your creativity and build with us!

Learn more about Building Station

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

These activities have unfortunately been cancelled, but look for their return in 2026! 

Did you know that you don't have to travel to the ocean to see a reef? Join conservation staff from The Nature Conservancy to learn about reefs that are found in the Great Lakes! At our booth, you get to be an ecosystem engineer for the day. Design your own reef to provide habitat for some of Michigan's common native fish species, then take on the role of predator or prey to put your design to the test. We’ll have hands-on examples to teach you about some of the common native and non-native invasive species found in the Great Lakes.

Learn more about Cancelled: Stop the Reef Thief`!

Appropriate for: All Ages

This event has been cancelled - please look for it's possible return in 2026! 

Paint with plant pigments and experiment with oil extraction from plants! Through these activities, you'll learn about plant-based oils and biofuels.

Learn more about Cancelled: What's Inside a Plant?

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

Arbor Day is a holiday celebrating trees and their importance in our lives. It's a great time to think about what we can do for trees and the earth, recognizing their importance to community health and well-being. 

Learn more about Celebrate Arbor Day with Michigan DNR

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age

Explore color mixing by seeing what happens when you add water to art! Create beautiful butterflies using markers and coffee filters. 

Learn more about Chromatography Butterflies

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

Color different structures on plaster brains and take them home!

Learn more about Color a Brain

Appropriate for: High school age, 18 years and above

Scientists engage diverse audiences through various platforms, including social media, science festivals, and community partnerships. The Science Communication Identities Project examines how individual and group identities enhance science communication. Our culturally responsive training empowers scientists to integrate their cultural backgrounds into communication practices. We aim to share insights from our project with scientists and the MSU-Greater Lansing community. Through hands-on, theater-based activities, participants will learn practical techniques for culturally inclusive science communication. By exploring how identity shapes communication and vice versa, we provide tools to connect effectively with diverse audiences and foster greater engagement with science.

Learn more about Communicating Science Across Cultures

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

Everyone communicates differently, and every kind of communication is great! At the communication station, audience members will have the opportunity to learn and try out different forms of communication. These include gestures, speech, low-tech AAC, and high-tech AAC. AAC, or augmentative and alternative communication, is any form of communicating other than speech! 

Learn more about Communication Station

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age

Draw your own creature, and give them adaptations to survive in the wild! How powerful can you make your critter?

Learn more about Create a Critter

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age

How do researchers collect their study animals? They head into the field and get hands-on! This program introduces kids to different types of organisms and the methods scientists use to gather them. Learn how to spot a squid hidden in the sand and capture it with a net. Try collecting insects from plants using specialized tools. Explore the world of anemones under a microscope. Through these hands-on activities, kids will discover how researchers find and study animals in the wild while gaining a deeper appreciation for the natural world.

Learn more about Critter Collectors: Fieldwork Exploration Zone

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

To save the day, you must get past the robots protecting their command center. But be careful. The robots follow a secret set of instructions (an algorithm) that determines how they move. Can you outsmart the robots and get to their base without being caught? In this interactive exhibit, participants will learn about algorithm design and analysis while seeing how well they can perform against our strategies in a simulated, interactive game.

Learn more about Defeat the Robots! Save the Day by Escaping the Robot Guards!

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

MSU's Campus Archaeology Program works to protect and interpret the cultural heritage of the university and provide training to graduate and undegraduate students in field and laboratory methodologies. Come visit our table to check out artifacts from excavations on campus, learn about archaeological research, and try some fun hands-on activities!

Learn more about Digging the Past: Archaeology on Campus

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age

Food webs are the hidden threads connecting all living organisms. Top predators like fish are vital to maintain ecosystem balance. The Roth lab at MSU is composed of Fisheries and Wildlife professionals who will teach families about food webs and the roles of top fish predators in the Great Lakes. Participants will play a fishing game that illustrates connections among Great Lakes organisms and view an interactive poster showing energy flow through various species. These activities will foster appreciation for our waters and build awareness of Great Lakes health. Come get hooked on the Great Lakes!

Learn more about Discover Great Lakes Food Webs and Predators: Why Are Fish Important?

Appropriate for: Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age

DNA is an essential part of life. It contains the code for all living organisms and helps make people who they are. In this activity, we will be extracting DNA from a strawberry. The amount of DNA in a strawberry has quadrupled over their long history, meaning that we are able to visualize it without the use of a microscope. We will learn about why DNA is so important for life, the function of the molecule, and how it is being used by scientists today.

Learn more about DNA: The Small But Berry Important Molecule

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

Join us to explore what neuroscience can teach us about the contributions of our microbes to brain development. Via interactive demonstrations and hands-on activities, we will discover the incredible impact of microbes on our brain growth and learn about the ways that our lifestyles (for example, antibiotic overuse) may be affecting our microbes and therefore our brain development. All age groups are welcome!

Learn more about Do Microbes Shape Your Brain?

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

Pretend you are a neuroscientist and take pictures!

Learn more about Dress Like a Neuroscientist

Appropriate for: Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

Elementary particles are the tiniest existing matter in all of the universe. Some of these particles travel freely through space for a long time, carrying information about astrophysical events from the past and present. We will introduce visitors to the goals and challenges of detecting these invisible particles through live demos, including a cloud chamber and a muon detector, and by sharing our experience and enthusiasm as particle and astro-particle physicists.

Learn more about Elementary Particles: Detecting the Invisible

Appropriate for: Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

What makes MSU’s supercomputer so super? The key ingredient is called parallel processing. In other words, MSU’s supercomputer can do many things at once, while a normal laptop computer can do comparatively few things at once. Learn more about parallel processing in a fun, interactive, and hands-on demonstration called a “Raspberry Pi Supercomputer.” Play our educational video game with a mock supercomputer to see how much of a performance improvement you can create with parallel processing!

Learn more about Experiment with the Principles of Supercomputing Through a Video Game

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

Many people know their clinical specimens get sent to the medical laboratory, but what happens next? Who performs the testing, and how is it done? Tour the Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics program and explore the different disciplines of the medical laboratory, do some hands-on medical laboratory activities, and learn about the scientists who perform medical laboratory testing every day!

Learn more about Explore Medical Laboratory Science!

Appropriate for: Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

MSU’s supercomputer can perform four quadrillion math operations in a single second. One human working every second of every day would take over 128 million years to do the same! This massive speedup is critical for computational researchers from every discipline to conduct their work. The Institute for Cyber-Enabled Research (ICER) provides support and services for this cyberinfrastructure. Join ICER in exploring the supercomputing center in a virtual 360-degree tour that walks you through the critical hardware components, the impressive cooling system, the process of running applications, and more!

Learn more about Explore the Nuts and Bolts of MSU's Supercomputer!

Appropriate for: Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

Explore how MSU’s supercomputer enables researchers to use artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate research! Hosted by the Institute for Cyber-Enabled Research, our booth features interactive AI modules that showcase how advanced computing hardware, such as graphics processing units (GPUs), accelerate complex computations and enable smarter, faster technology. Whether you're a tech enthusiast or just curious, come see how supercomputers are shaping the future of innovation. 

Learn more about Explore the World of Artificial Intelligence with MSU’s Supercomputer

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

Pseudomonas syringae is a bacterial plant pathogen which threatens agriculture, including the iconic cherry blossoms of Michigan. It inhabits diverse environments including rivers, clouds and plant surfaces and has evolved remarkable adaptations:

1. Siderophores: Iron-scavenging molecules that fluoresce under UV light.
2. Ice nucleation: Trigger ice formation above freezing temperatures.
3. Type-III-secretion-system: Injects virulence proteins into plant cells.

At our booth, you’ll witness these bacterial superpowers in action! Observe P. syringae create ice, see glowing bacteria under UV light, and learn how P. syringae has shaped understanding of plant immunity.

Learn more about Exploring Adaptations of the Plant Pathogen Pseudomonas syringae

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

At the Corn Booth, you’ll discover how corn plants grow and “recycle” themselves as they develop. Explore the life cycle of this incredible plant, learn how low nutrition affects its growth, how corn cells are organized, and about their natural repair processes.
But that’s not all . . . grab a jar with colorful glass-gem Indian corn kernels for planting at home and some yummy popcorn while you're here! It’s science, snacks, and fun all in one place!

Learn more about Exploring Growth and Self-Recycling with Corn!

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

Not every cherry on a cherry tree makes it to harvest. Some cherries naturally fall to the ground as the growing season progresses. These fruits, if left to rot, may lead to pests and diseases spreading on the orchard floor, increasing the risk of these issues impacting cherries awaiting harvest in the trees. We used trail cameras in 2024 to identify which wild animals use this rotting fruit as a food source and how often. 24/7 cameras showed many different types of animals foraging for food on orchard floors and suggested the potential benefits they may provide to farmers.

Learn more about Birds and Mammals in Cherry Orchards: Are They Helping Farmers?

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

Butterflies are well-loved insects that are common in our gardens and roadsides, but few know the secret lives of butterflies that range from strange to deadly. We will learn what a butterfly actually is and where they fit in the tree of life. We'll go over the basic biology of butterflies and learn how to identify a butterfly from a moth. Then we explore each of the groups of butterflies that live here in Michigan. We'll learn how to identify each group, which ecosystems they call home, and what makes them unique in their own strange yet beautiful way.

Learn more about Butterfly Bonanza: The Ecology and Conservation of Michigan's Well-Loved Insects

Appropriate for: Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

What is machine learning? This presentation will introduce fundamental concepts of machine learning, a study that has created a "fourth industrial revolution" in the world. Participants will be guided through the main ideas of machine learning and participate in a machine learning activity. The presentation also will include an overview of the strengths/advantages and challenges of machine learning. 

Learn more about AI School: An Introduction to Machine Learning

Appropriate for: Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

This event has ben cancelled. Please look for its possible return in 2026. 

We aim to develop an AI conversational agent that informs and engages rural families about the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines. This research seeks to empower families with accurate information, promote informed health decisions and build vaccine confidence. We conducted 13 interviews with parents and adolescents aged 11 to 16 residing in rural Michigan--an underrepresented sub-population in existing research. Our study showed that participants found the AI conversational agent easy to use and intuitive, which suggests that our natural-language-based AI agent can overcome the barriers to entry among rural populations. Yet, many parents expressed a desire for assistance scheduling the vaccine, highlighting the need for customized interactions tailored to their unique needs. 

Learn more about Cancelled - Using AI to Chat About HPV with Adolescents

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

Learn about the chemistry of the human senses of vision, smell, and taste! Poster presentations will provide scientific principles behind the human senses and the molecules associated with them. Hands-on activities will keep kids of all ages involved and engaged!

Learn more about Chemistry of the Human Senses

Appropriate for: Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

Solve a colorful puzzle that stumped mathematicians for over a century and was ultimately cracked with the help of a computer! In this hands-on activity that uses both artistic and problem-solving skills, you'll color in a map of the United States and explore an exciting visual branch of mathematics called graph theory. This math is behind central ideas in computer science, modern technologies like GPS navigation, and can even be used to solve sudoku puzzles.

Learn more about Coloring, Creative Math, and Computers

Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above

Make your own edible ice cream aquifer! Learn about aquifers and groundwater and how you can protect water resources. Find out how groundwater in the aquifer can become contaminated by watching what happens when you start adding chocolate syrup, sprinkles, and soda to your ice cream aquifer.

Learn more about Edible Ice Cream Aquifers: What Can You Learn About Groundwater?