Date: Nov. 2, 2007

Chemistry Club is ready to put on a show

Members of the UC Davis Chemistry Club will dazzle audiences with four shows Saturday at Explorit Science Center, 2801 Second St. in Davis.

Tickets will be handed out beginning at 11:30 a.m. for the club's 30-minute demonstrations, which are set for 1, 1:45, 2:45 and 3:30 p.m. The shows are free with paid admission to Explorit; the club's visit is sponsored by Kaiser Permanente as part of Explorit's Family Exploration program.

For a preview of some of the club's most popular demonstrations, visit www.youtube.com and enter "UC Davis Chemistry Club" in the search field. You'll find new videos of club members making 1930s-style Coca-Cola and artificial beer, and well as a candle that magically lights itself. More information about the club itself is available at http://chemgroups.ucdavis.edu/~osterloh/chemclub/activities.htm.

"The club always presents a memorable show," says Megan Chiosso, Explorit program director. "The club members' enthusiasm for and interest in chemistry is contagious, and we really appreciate their sharing with Explorit visitors.

"We have people come back years later who say they remember the explosions, fire, smoke, fun and magic of Chemistry Club demonstrations."

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Explorit is seeking volunteers in three areas of museum activity:

• Science teaching assistant. The center hosts two types of field trips during the winter, Discovery Lessons and Discovery Labs. In the first, an Explorit educator introduces schoolchildren to the museum and engages them in discussion on the topic of the current exhibition. Then the children spend time in the gallery itself, and volunteers are needed to help facilitate their hands-on exploration of the exhibits.

Volunteers are also needed for the second type of field trip, called Discovery Labs. An educator typically leads a group discussion and then the children conduct lab experiments. Volunteers are needed to help with the lab projects.

Discovery Lessons and Labs are held weekdays from 8:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. Volunteers are asked to commit to one two- to four-hour shift a week. UC Davis students can get recognition on their transcripts for volunteer service if they complete 40 volunteer hours during a quarter.

• Administrative volunteer. A volunteer is needed to help answer phones, assemble teacher packets and perform other duties. Hours are negotiable.

• Exhibit interpreter volunteer.   This is an ongoing need. Two-to four-hour shifts are available on weekdays or weekends to greet the public, help with special events and programs (like Family Explorations), and assist the museum interpreters as needed.

For information about any of these activities, call Kristin Sizemore, volunteer coordinator, at 756-0191 between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays. More information and a volunteer application are also available at www.explorit.org /about/volunteer.html .

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