STEAM Expo Days

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

Semiconductor chips are becoming increasingly smaller with greater computation capabilities. Lithography, a chemical/physical process, forms intricate patterns on chips by depositing materials through masks. In our daily lives, a parallel concept is found in screen printing graphic artworks on canvases or t-shirts. Engage in a hands-on activity to grasp lithography fundamentals using affordable materials like cardstock stencils and paint. Additionally, observe micropatterns created on chips in the lab using an optical microscope.

Learn more about Lithography: How Chemists Make Tiny Computer Chips

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

Learn about the different parts of neurons and use craft supplies to make your own to take home.

Learn more about Make a Neuron

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

Since April 2020, MI Diaries has been gathering weekly "audio diaries" from Michigan residents through a mobile app. In partnership with Inquiry Arts, we showcase the process of collecting, sharing, and linguistically analyzing these stories. Visitors will explore word choice and pronunciation variations, and they will have the opportunity to contribute their own stories to the project.

Learn more about MI Diaries: Tell Your Story for Linguistic Analysis

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

Mi Water Source! Enviroscape Education Demonstration strives to heighten awareness about water importance and health protection. Using an interactive 3D model, the program illustrates how daily activities can lead to water pollution and contamination. Emphasizing the impact on drinking water sources like surface water and groundwater, the demonstration guides students on reducing these effects to safeguard both water quality and public health.

Learn more about Mi Water Source! Enviroscape Education Demonstration

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

Come learn about the importance of mindfulness for our health and do a short, guided meditation with MSU neuroscientists!

Learn more about Mindfulness with Neuroscientists

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

Join neuroscientists to try and trace a shape by looking at only your reflection!

Learn more about Mirror Tracing

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

Ever wondered what nature truly sounds, smells, and looks like? Dive into a world of endless possibilities as you rediscover your sense of wonder. Engage your senses of sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste to explore the myriad secrets that nature eagerly shares—if only we take the time to listen.

Learn more about Nature Speaks if You Listen: Using Your 5 Senses to Uncover the Secrets of the Natural World

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

Watch how a neurologist evaluates your nervous system.

Learn more about Nervous Breakdown

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

Show off your love for neuroscience with face paint!

Learn more about Neuroscience Face Painting

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

Learn how certain tasks are more difficult with Parkinson’s disease.

Learn more about Parkinson's Perspectives

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

Join WAMPS (Women and Minorities in the Physical Sciences), a graduate student organization! Explore captivating topics such as matter, energy, force, electricity, magnetism, waves, motion, sound, light, and color alongside our current MSU students.

Learn more about Phantastic Physics! Interactive Science Demos

Appropriate for: All Ages

Uncover the secrets of water flow and watershed dynamics through interactive exploration with our Augmented Reality Sandbox. Users can simulate rain on the sand, shaping rivers, lakes, hills, and developments, revealing the human impact on the environment. This educational tool generates a topographical model with contour lines and simulated water, serving as a free resource from the Greater Lansing Regional Committee for Stormwater Management and the Eaton Conservation District that aids residents in enhancing watershed health and safeguarding the Grand River Watershed.

Learn more about Play in the Sand and Make it Rain to Create Landforms and Study Watersheds

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

Discover the wonders of science with the East Lansing Public Library's Wonder Lab! Dive into interactive activities focused on investigating pressure. Explore how changes in pressure impact the behavior of gases and liquids, their interactions with surrounding objects, and how engineers leverage pressure to create fascinating machines. Join us for a hands-on journey into the world of pressure and its exciting applications!

Learn more about Playing with Pressure ‒ East Lansing Public Library Wonder Lab

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

See how your brain is protected in your head!

Learn more about Protect Your Brain

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

Join neuroscientists to see how fast your brain can make your hand solve a puzzle!

Learn more about Race for Perfection

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

Explore the awesome world of radioactivity with the Gaiser Group and the FRIB to make the world a cleaner, greener, better place!

Join us to explore some of the rarest elements on the periodic table! We'll guide you through the beneficial uses of radioactive materials and their historical impact on your day-to-day life. Engage in hands-on activities at our booth to enhance your understanding of these fascinating elements.

Learn more about Radioactive!

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

Playing with ramps and things that roll helps children learn simple principles of physical science and engineering! In this activity, families will learn how to make their own ramps using commonly found household objects and help children explore gravity, speed, and distance.

Learn more about Ramp and Roll

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

Embark on an exhilarating dice adventure at our event, "Rolling the Dice: Unveiling Normal Distributions." In Level 1, chase the elusive sums of 3, 4, 17, or 18 to claim enticing rewards. Level 2 offers a daring choice between three or four dice, challenging you to outmatch the host's roll for grander prizes. Our meticulous recorder diligently tracks participants' dice rolls, unveiling intriguing insights through an evolving histogram display. Witness the captivating patterns emerge as you follow the live updates on our website using the QR code, delving into the mystique of the dice's whims and fancies.

Learn more about Rolling the Dice: Unveiling Normal Distributions

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

Attendees can manipulate carbon dioxide and light levels to witness real-time effects on photosynthesis. Young participants enjoy hands-on activities, like blocking light temporarily to observe rapid photosynthesis restarts. Older attendees experiment with adjusting light and carbon dioxide levels to observe broader impacts. Special features include "space wheat" and microtom tomatoes, unique root-view boxes, and peanuts that grow underground.

Learn more about See Plants Grow in Real Time!

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

Learn about our spinal cord and how it is protected by the spinal column while making your own spinal cord to take home!

Learn more about Spine Model

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

Join Abrams Planetarium to explore the Michigan night sky with short sky talks throughout the day. Shows will run every 30 minutes from 10am - 4pm.

Learn more about Spring Skies Over Michigan

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

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 the 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 Stop the Reef Thief!

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

MSU’s supercomputer performs four quadrillion math operations per second, an accomplishment that would take a human over 128 million years. This immense speed is crucial for researchers across disciplines. Join ICER on a virtual 360-degree tour of the supercomputing center, exploring hardware, cooling systems, application processes, and more. Don't miss the introductory video led by Eniac, ICER’s animated computer node!

Learn more about Supercomputing in 360 Degrees: Explore the Nuts and Bolts!

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

See the different parts of an eye up close and learn more about the science behind vision.

Learn more about Take an Up-Close Look at a Cow Eye!

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

Let's explore the electrical conductivity of various minerals. Electrical conductivity, a key property indicating how well a substance conducts electricity, varies among minerals—some being highly conductive, while others act as insulators. Through this experiment, we aim to gain insights into the electrical properties of minerals and their practical applications in our daily lives.

Learn more about Testing the Electrical Conductivity of Minerals

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

Salt, scientifically identified as sodium chloride (NaCl), holds a crucial presence in our world, influencing oceans, Earth's interior, our food, and our bodies. In winter, the sight of salt-covered roadways is familiar, rooted in science, as salt lowers water's freezing point, transforming ice into liquid. Michigan's history is intertwined with salt, harboring a concealed subterranean realm beneath Detroit—the salt mines, formed approximately 400 million years ago.

Learn more about The Age of Salt in Michigan

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

Polymers are fascinating materials that play a significant role in our daily lives, and it's important for school kids to understand their basics. This introduction to polymers provides a simple and engaging overview for young learners. Polymers are like long chains made of tiny building blocks called monomers, and they are found everywhere, from the plastic in your toys to the rubber on your shoes. Understanding polymers is the first step to appreciating the incredible science that shapes the world around us.

Learn more about The Amazing World of Polymers

Appropriate for: High school age, 18 years and above

Discover the alchemy of turning fresh beans and water into a spectacular cup of coffee and learn all about the journey the bean took to get there. The Strange Matter team will teach you the science of pour-over brewing in order to achieve the perfect cup, as well as the extraction principles and variables of brewing involved in the process.

Learn more about The Art and Science of Coffee

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

Discover the enchantment of bird migration and delve into long-term migration studies with MSBO. Explore exquisite feathers, uncover the art of banding migratory birds by MSU scientists, and marvel at the incredible adaptations observed at our banding stations. Join us to witness the wonders of avian migration!

Learn more about The Magic of Migration

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

Across history, mineral-based pigments have been pivotal in art and cultural practices. Sourced from a myriad of minerals and rocks, these pigments have adorned paintings, frescoes, manuscripts, and various artistic expressions with vibrant hues. Join us in this demo as we collectively explore different mineral species and their role in pigment creation. Together, we'll craft a community mural, delving into the rich artistic heritage of mineral pigments.

Learn more about The Magic of Mineral-Based Paint

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

The Michigan Vaccine Project (MVP) grant is a partnership between Michigan State University Extension and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that aims to leverage MSU Extension's statewide network of county offices and community partnerships to provide people with trusted, evidence-based vaccination information. MVP has implemented a statewide outreach campaign using digital, radio and print materials—as well as in-person and virtual education programming—to inform Michiganders’ vaccination decision-making.

Learn more about The Michigan Vaccine Project

Appropriate for: High school age, Over 21 years only, 18 years and above

New advances in distributed 5G/6G networks have been made possible by improvements in the networking and communication of discrete wireless systems. A distributed antenna array, which consists of several spatially dispersed antenna systems that cooperate to synchronize their signals in time, frequency, and phase to enable coherent operation and mimic a sizable single-platform antenna array, is a promising antenna technology for these applications. We will go over current methods for synchronizing a distributed antenna array and show how well they work with software-defined radio systems.

Learn more about The Next Generation of Wireless Communication

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

Scientists utilize supercomputers to expedite research, solving questions much faster than on personal laptops. Join ICER for a journey through our graphic novel, "The Story of Supercomputing," exploring how a scientist tackles complex questions. Visit our Silicon Petting Zoo booth to explore typically unseen computer parts, with a supercomputing expert ready to answer your questions!

Learn more about The Story of Supercomputing

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

The human body, a source of endless fascination, holds mysteries yet to be unveiled. Expert explorers, be they physiologists or physicians, all seek to understand what makes us function. Explore questions like how we grow, what keeps our heart beating, and why we breathe unconsciously through hands-on experiments and demonstrations with expert physiology explorers!

Learn more about The Wonders of Human Physiology

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

Discover the fascinating potential of the plants in our prairies and forests! Join us to meet MSU scientists delving into research on using these plants to create the fuels and products we rely on daily. Learn about harnessing the superpowers of microbes to transform grass into gas. Engage in interactive, hands-on activities that unveil the mysteries we're unraveling on the journey towards a more sustainable future.

Learn more about Transforming Grass to Gas

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

Visit the Beal Botanical Garden and Campus Arboretum table to learn about our treasured trees on campus and celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Arboretum.

Learn more about Treasured Trees: 150 Years of the MSU Campus Arboretum

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

Proteins, crucial for life's fundamental activities, can also contribute to the harmful effects of pathogens. Scientists employ X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy to study these macromolecules' three-dimensional structures. In this presentation, explore protein components and witness the use of computer programs to visualize select proteins' 3D structures.

Learn more about Visualizing Proteins

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

Learn about how caffeine affects the brain with neuroscientists!

Learn more about Wake Up Your Brain

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

Join us for an introduction to machine learning, a study that has created a "fourth industrial revolution" in the world. We will guide you through the main ideas of machine learning and participate in a machine learning activity that will help you understand the fundamental concepts.

Learn more about What Is Machine Learning?

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

How do scientists search for life when peering into Martian rocks? What kind of miraculous gadget do you believe they use to inspect the vegetables for pesticides? Mass spectrometry! Scientists can use mass spectrometry to uncover the composition of materials down to the smallest particles, making it an incredible investigative tool! This method allows the detection and separation of individual ions from a complicated matrix. You can see how it functions in our video depiction and have a chance to try it for yourself!

Learn more about What is Mass Spectronomy? A Look Inside a Chemist's Toolbox

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

You get a mysterious black box. What's inside? One rule: You can't open the box! How can you find out what's inside? How certain can you be? In this hands-on activity, we will ask you to reflect on what counts as a good answer and why? For whom? And under what circumstances?

Learn more about What's in the Box? A Hands-On Investigation of Scientific Practice

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

In plants, metabolites contribute to flavors and scents in fruits. With thousands of metabolites, these natural molecules offer diverse flavors for the food industry. Join our interactive presentation to explore the role of plant metabolites. Conduct experiments to recreate your favorite fruit smells, examine the 3D structure of molecules, and learn about the pioneering scientists behind these discoveries. Presented by the Plant Metabolic Network.

Learn more about Why Do Bananas Smell So A-Peeling!

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

Veterinary nurses do a lot of the same tasks that human nurses do ... just on animals! From drawing blood to performing anesthesia, vet nurses are responsible for caretaking as part of veterinary care. They work hard as advocates to ensure that ALL animals (large, small, companion, and wild) are comfortable, healthy, and happy.

Learn more about You Can Be a Veterinary Nurse Too!

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

How are a rocket engine and birthday candle related? We'll go above and beyond to understand the science that links the physics of candles to what makes rocket engines go, while demonstrating why fire looks and behaves the way that it does. Take a look into the science and engineering of rocket engine design to explain how simple flames are used to generate huge thrust forces to launch mankind into space.

Learn more about Rocket Science 101: Inside a Rocket Engine

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

MSU scientists have innovated soft and implantable fibers capable of delivering light to major nerves throughout the body. By genetically manipulating these nerves to respond to light, these fibers can transmit pulses of light to inhibit pain. Notably, the optical fibers exhibit flexibility and can stretch with the body, showcasing a breakthrough in pain management technology.

Learn more about Material Science and Medicine: How Optical Fibers Can Inhibit Pain

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

Subatomic particles come in many shapes and sizes. Some of them travel billions of years from deep space to reach our instruments on Earth. Through a number of hands-on activities and demos, we will introduce the audience to the fundamental particles that make up matter. We will also introduce the special telescopes we use to capture such particles coming from outer space. We are a group of particle physicists and astrophysicists who've joined hands to study some of the most elusive objects in the universe.

Learn more about Particle Journeys: From Deep Space to Deep Underground

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

Many natural plants have unique surface properties, such as the water repellence and self-cleaning properties of lotus leaves. Through biomimicry, we can fabricate engineered surfaces to replicate the surface properties in natural plants. These bio-inspired surfaces have inspired numerous important applications, such as non-stick pans, raincoats, etc. This activity will introduce the unique properties of lotus leaves and pitcher plans, how to mimic their unique properties in engineering surfaces, and the practical applications of these bio-inspired surfaces in our daily life.

Learn more about Slick Science: From Lotus Leaves to Non-Stick Pans

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

Physics drives technological advancements, creating everyday items like light bulbs and televisions. Join this event for an electrifying exploration of basic and applied (nuclear) physics. Experience particle acceleration with electrostatic wands and witness a nerf gun demonstration showing the use of particles in medical imaging and disease treatment. It's a dynamic journey into the world of physics and its practical applications!

This is an FRIB affiliated event.

Learn more about The Phantastic Voyage

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

Explore the role of social networks in why women and racial minorities graduate from STEM majors at lower rates among college students. If women and underrepresented students of color experience greater exclusion from social networks since they are the minority, they operate at a severe disadvantage in forming study groups for their STEM classes. They are also more likely to miss out on key social information passed between peers, such as informal tips about scheduling classes or effective study strategies. Lower levels of social support and access to social information may discourage interested students from persisting in STEM majors.

Learn more about The Role of Race, Ethnicity, and Gender Identity in the College Experience

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

Discover the diversity of insects and spiders in Michigan! Come learn about flying spiders, the latest findings in invasive species research, and how you can get involved.

Learn more about Michigan Bugs and Spiders