LEAPS Outreach Program at UCI

Professor Jarvo is the faculty mentor for the LEAPS Program (Laboratory Experiments and Activities in the Physical Sciences) at UC Irvine.  The LEAPS program is designed to engage students from nearby middle schools with a “Day at College” experience that includes hands-on experiments in a research lab. This program is orchestrated by Ms. Kara Ward, UCI Physical Sciences Access, Outreach and Inclusion Program Coordinator.

The program was founded in 2010 by Prof. Jarvo, Prof. Martin (UCI Chemistry), Prof. Siwy (UCI Physics) and Dr. Lori Greene. LEAPS intends to educate middle school students about opportunities in STEM, help them visualize themselves as university students, engage them in hands-on experiments in research labs and provide opportunities to interact with young scientists. During their visit, the students spend two one-hour sessions in a research lab doing hands-on experiments.  Since 2012, LEAPS has held >14 outreach events with 40-80 7^th and 8^th grade students, with participation of >20 UCI research labs in Physical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Engineering.

In our laboratory, students undertake three experiments that dovetail with the California Public Schools’ Science Standards.  For example, 8^th graders are to learn that biological systems are made of molecules.  We perform a series of experiments to reinforce this concept, including hands-on TLC of the food coloring in M&M’s, extraction of iron from oatmeal, and a demonstration of sucrose oxidation (flaming gummy bears).  We connect our research in catalysis with hands-on yeast-catalyzed elephant toothpaste experiments.  Visits in our lab are typically supported our NSF awards.

Experiments we love:

• TLC’ing the food coloring in M+M’s, complete with co-spots with yellow #5.  Link to experiment:  Kandel, M. J. Chem. Ed. 1992, 69, 988.

• The spectacular flame rainbow.  Thank you, Hanna!

• Flaming gummy bears!  Links to some of the best sources:
  • Mrstyles.co.uk/html/screaming_baby.html
  • http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4376433037022171750&q=gummy+bear
  • http://pslc.ws/macrog/kidsmac/activity/bear.htm

• Elephant toothpaste.  We like the hands-on (mini) version using either yeast or KI to catalyze hydrogen peroxide decomposition.  Each student gets their own water bottle with a small amount (e.g. 20 mL) of hydrogen peroxide.  Link: http://www.middleschoolchemistry.com/lessonplans/chapter6/lesson5