| Dates (2025) | Theme A | Theme B |
| Session I: June 23 - June 27 | The Chemistry of Food (8-12Y) | The Chemistry of Sustainable Cities (13-17Y) |
| Session II: July 7 - July 11 | Pre-Medical (8-12Y) | Forensics Science (13-17Y) |
| Session III: July 14 - July 18 | Paleontology and Prehistory (8-12Y) | Cosmetic Chemistry (13-17Y) |
| Session IV: July 21-25 | N/A | The Chemistry of Medicine (14-17Y) |
The Chemistry of Food
Age 8-12 years old
Food is essential to life. Living organisms need food to grow and to sustain life. But, are food chemicals? Aren't chemicals bad for you? And, what does chemistry and chemists have to do with food? These questions and many more will be explored during our session on the Chemistry of Food.
A worldview of food will explore scientific, historical, cultural, mathematical, agricultural and environmental aspects of what we – and others – eat. The exploration continues with engaging hands on chemistry experiments. Students will practice laboratory safety while measuring, characterizing, analyzing, synthesizing, and more in state of the art chemistry laboratories at UC-Irvine.
Lastly, no Chemistry of Food sessions is complete without the making of ice cream using liquid nitrogen. Under strict supervision from instructors and lab supervisors, students will safely experiment with dry ice and cryogenic liquid nitrogen. The fun filled week will open students to the possible application of chemistry in fields such as healthcare, nutrition, research and development, agriculture, food manufacturing, and more.
The Chemistry of Sustainable Cities
Age 13-17 years old
The Chemistry of Sustainable Cities offers a transformative journey into the heart of modern urban challenges and the groundbreaking solutions that await discovery. This immersive course delves deep into the intricate relationship between our built environment and the escalating impacts of human-induced climate change, such as extreme weather events, wildfires, and rising sea levels.
Students will embark on an exciting exploration of chemistry and climate science, understanding how these critical fields intersect and influence human settlements and city sustainability. With access to UCI's cutting-edge academic and environmental resources, including pioneering research on climate science, students will gain invaluable insights to inform their understanding and enhance their decision-making skills.
The hands-on experience doesn't stop there. Through direct field studies, students will analyze campus temperature variations, bringing data to life and visualizing practical, sustainable urban solutions. This process will empower students to transform abstract concepts into tangible, real-world applications.
This course encourages innovation and creativity. Students will showcase their visionary approaches to city sustainability and proactive problem prevention, demonstrating their ability to think critically and act decisively in the face of contemporary urban challenges.
The Chemistry of Sustainable Cities is not just a course—it's a catalyst for change, equipping the next generation of leaders with the knowledge and tools to shape a more resilient and sustainable future for our cities. Join us in making a difference, one sustainable city at a time.
Pre-Medical
Age 8-12 years old
This introductory pre-med course is designed to introduce students to various aspects of medical science. The course covers a wide range of topics, including: chemistry, human anatomy and physiology, genetics, microbiology and immunology. Each day focuses on a specific theme with hands-on activities and experiments to engage students in practical learning experiences.
Throughout the course, students participate in various hands-on activities, including dissections, simulations, experiments, and model-building exercises. The curriculum aims to provide a well-rounded introduction to medical sciences, combining theoretical knowledge with practical skills and real-world applications. The course concludes with a medical field day focused on basic life skills such as CPR, first aid, and vital sign measurements.
Forensics Science
Solving Crimes and Mysteries
Age: 13-17 years old
Do you like to put puzzles together? Or maybe solve mysteries? To solve the puzzle -- or a mystery -- you have to see how one piece relates to others. To be successful you have to see how all the pieces fit together. That is the essence of forensic science, a term that has a specific meaning that you will come to understand.
Forensic science helps investigators solve problems and mysteries. Very often it is applied to cases that involve a crime, so sometimes it is referred to as “crime science.” You will be introduced to four methods used to solve crimes and other mysteries: DNA analysis, ballistics and fingerprinting and handwriting analysis.
DNA analysis is a relatively new method and is very precise. We will extract DNA from an organism, and you will see a miraculous result of this biochemical task. We will also review several cases in which DNA analysis was used to solve a mystery.
The second workshop, ballistics, is the science of projectiles. You will learn how to identify several projectiles and learn how their analysis helps solve crimes. Student forensic technicians will investigate the chemical composition and evolution of gunpowder, from black powder to modern smokeless powder.
Fingerprinting has solved a huge number of mysteries. It is a very important and accurate forensic identification tool. Take a look at four chemical fingerprinting techniques – some traditional (older), some modern/advanced -- that “lift” fingerprints off materials that are otherwise difficult to see otherwise.
Handwriting is also useful, and you will analyze yours and others as practice for a case.
Each of these workshops will conclude with a mini-case for you to solve. After the workshops on these methods have been completed, we will apply them to investigate and hopefully solve a major mystery.
There may even be another “surprise” activity to culminate your forensic experience.
Paleontology and Prehistory
Age: 8-12 years old
Prehistoric life has long fascinated people around the world. In this experience, students will take an expedition through geologic time to explore life that has been lost throughout Earth’s history. This learning experience will consider long-extinct forms of life, both plants and animals. Students will examine the processes of fossilization and make your own fossil model from specimens that existed, then became extinct long before the dinosaurs. Learn the ABCs of life in the Mesozoic Era — the age of dinosaurs. Complete the week’s experience with life after the extinction of dinosaurs including the rise of mammals and early hominids, our ancestors. Activities may include:
- Dinosaurs as birds/birds as dinosaurs (new for 2025)
- Geologic time in symphony form
- Casting trilobites and collecting turitellas
- A simulated fossil excavation
- Mammoth science and math
- Lab preparation of real prehistoric whale bones
- Prehistoric art
- Fossil parade — bring your own to exhibit
- Construct a model paleontology museum
- A microfossil lab (new for 2025)
Cosmetic Chemistry
Make-up and Beyond
Age 13-17 years old
The term cosmetic industry describes the development, manufacturing, marketing, and sale of products such as: hair care products, skin care products, make-up, and even perfume. It is a multi billion dollar industry that has operations world wide. The Cosmetic Chemistry course aims to introduce students to the cosmetic industry from a chemistry perspective. Students will learn about laboratory safety and product safety while synthesizing a variety of different cosmetic products from raw materials in the laboratory. Students will then apply analytical techniques to examine the effectiveness and safety of said products. If you’ve ever read the ingredients list of your favorite soap, shampoo, or skin care product and wonder what the list represents? Or, if you’ve ever wondered why some products are more effective than others? This is your chance to explore those topics and more.
The Chemistry of Medicine
Age 14-17 years old
The Chemistry of Medicine is a week-long adventure designed to immerse high school students in the science behind drug discovery and development. Participants will engage in hands-on laboratory experiments, explore drug design, debate ethical considerations of medicine, and visit UC-Irvine's cutting-edge facilities that support high-quality research and education.
The program includes an introduction to chemical synthesis and characterization, where students will learn the fundamental techniques used to create and analyze new compounds. They'll explore the principles of chemical reactions, purification methods, and the importance of molecular structure in drug efficacy. Through guided experiments, participants will synthesize simple compounds and use characterization techniques such as spectroscopy and chromatography to confirm their structures and properties.
The Chemistry of Medicine program offers an interactive and exciting introduction to the chemistry that powers modern healthcare. Sign up today and let your curiosity and passion for science soar!