Video: 'Polymers'

By School of Engineering and Applied Science on Aug. 12, 2010, noon

Local middle school students help faculty members and graduate students give a hands-on explanation of polymers at Princeton's 2010 Science and Engineering Expo.

A high-energy mix of fun and science characterized the University's Science and Engineering Expo on Thursday, March 17. More than 900 children from 11 local middle schools streamed through Icahn Lab, McDonnell Hall, Frick Lab and the Friend Center to participate in scores of demonstrations and hands-on activities designed to engage them in subjects from biology to astrophysics.

Middle schoolers explore wonders of science and engineering .

The door to the tiny room in Princeton's Icahn Laboratory closes, and darkness covers everyone inside: Ben Tiede, a dozen middle school students and one mouse. "OK, what color is the Incredible Hulk?" asks Tiede, a graduate student in Princeton's molecular biology department. "Green!" several voices respond. With that, Tiede shines a blue flashlight into the cage on the table, and the mouse lights up like a green neon sign.

Video feature: Laser work informs Shepard's study of polymer materials .

Kimberly Shepard, a doctoral student in Princeton's Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, is studying the behavior of polymer glasses, materials that do not have a crystal structure.

Video feature: 'Discover Princeton Environmental Institute' .

Stephen Pacala, director of the Princeton Environmental Institute, provides a visual tour of the University's interdisciplinary center for environmental research, education and outreach. In this video Pacala discusses the institute's mission, world-class faculty, interdisciplinary research and unique educational opportunities, including internships.

Senior thesis project probes intricacies of groundwater cleanup .

Audrey Shih, Class of 2020, worked on a senior thesis project to investigate how specialized materials can act to remove recalcitrant pollutants like crude oil and mercury that can linger in groundwater even after major cleanup efforts.

Fun side of science draws local students to Princeton .

More than 900 students from 10 junior high schools converged on Princeton’s campus on March 21 for the 2006 Science and Engineering Exposition (SEE), which brought the group into Dillon Gym, Frick Lab, Icahn Lab and McDonnell Hall. Each location offered the students a staged demonstration of the fun and dramatic sides of modern science, followed by hands-on experiences with the tools that made the demonstrations work.