Thousands of families attended the annual South Side Science Festival at the University of Chicago, marking the event's largest turnout since its inception four years ago. The festival, which took place on the UChicago campus, drew approximately 4,300 children and parents, with more than half of the attendees coming from South Side communities. Over 700 UChicago scientists and 200 volunteers participated in the event, providing hands-on STEM activities for children.
The event was sponsored by the UChicago Office of Civic Engagement, Biological Sciences Division, Physical Sciences Division, and Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (UChicago PME). The festival featured 110 activities, including experiments with lasers, robotics demonstrations, slime synthesis, animal skull comparisons, CPR practice, and microscopy.
UChicago Chemistry Professor John Anderson, one of the founding faculty members of the event, emphasized that the goal is to sustain children's natural curiosity for science. “I think when you’re a kid, there’s a lot of joy and interest in science. And then as folks get older, they say, ‘Oh, it’s hard. That’s not me. That’s not for me,’” Anderson said. “One of the key messages we want to reiterate to people of all ages at the festival is that science can be for you. Science is fun, it’s interesting, it’s cool and we want to show that off.”
Children at the festival engaged in various activities such as examining replica skulls and painting with MXenes, a conductive paint discovered in 2011 that lights up when an electric current passes through it. One participant, Wren Veilleux, remarked on the demonstration: “I expected it to light up, but dimly. Not nearly as bright as it did.”
Dean Nadya Mason of UChicago PME highlighted the university’s commitment to fostering a love of science within the community. “Being able to connect people, particularly young people, to their world is not only one of the deepest obligations we have as scientists, but it’s also one of the greatest joys,” Mason said. “Events like this help people notice the science all around them, from the farthest reaches of space to inside their own bodies.”
The event also provided opportunities for participants to interact directly with researchers and graduate students. UChicago PME Ph.D. student Sam Marsden demonstrated physical changes using liquid nitrogen, while biophysics Ph.D. student Chris Anto and post-baccalaureate scholar Avi Strok explained animal development using microscopes.
Assistant Dean Laura Rico-Beck noted the reciprocal benefits for both community members and scientists: "There is something invaluable about engaging with curious minds from all walks of life—teachers and teenagers passionate about climate change, parents wondering how research impacts their lives," Rico-Beck said. "These conversations remind our scientists why their work matters beyond the research and innovation space, sharpen their ability to communicate complex ideas in accessible and meaningful ways, and build a strong sense of connection between the university and the community."
The South Side Science Festival is held annually each fall on the University of Chicago campus and is free and open to the public.