Chemistry in the Community

Chemistry is where all of the sciences come together. It helps you understand the air you breathe, the water you drink, the diseases in your body and everything around you. That’s why we make it a priority to share our work outside the lab.

We host a variety of events, seminars, lectures and symposia that offer opportunities to learn from our researchers and chemistry experts from around the world. We also bring our interactive demonstrations and expertise to both on-campus events, like Packapalooza and State of the Sciences, and off-campus events, like the North Carolina Science Festival and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences Science Cafe series.

Graduate and undergraduate students in our department are encouraged to become public scientists who are passionate about sharing their work. Our faculty use classroom projects like #IHeartChemistryNCSU to help students think about their work in new and creative ways and share it via social media, visual representations or interactive demonstrations. And many of our labs and student groups are involved in outreach and service activities.

Chemistry Department Outreach and Engagement Committee

The Chemistry Department Outreach and Engagement Committee serves as a bridge between the NC State chemistry community and external organizations seeking STEM-based (educational) experiences. We connect chemistry experts from our department – including faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and students – with schools, community colleges, companies, and other organizations interested in chemistry outreach activities.

Our committee facilitates various forms of engagement, including educational talks, hands-on demonstrations, laboratory tours, and interactive presentations. Whether you’re a K-12 teacher looking to enhance your science curriculum, a community organization planning a STEM event, or a company interested in chemistry education initiatives, we can help connect you with knowledgeable chemists who are eager to share their expertise.

If you would like to request a chemistry outreach activity or learn more about potential collaboration opportunities, please contact us at chemoutreach@ncsu.edu. We welcome inquiries from all organizations interested in promoting chemistry education and scientific literacy in our community.

K-12 Outreach

An appreciation of science built from a young age can stick around for life. Our department invests in the next generation of chemists through a range of K–12 education and outreach programs and events designed to help students experience the importance — and fun — of chemistry.

Our K-12 chemistry education projects include:

• Each year, the department hosts high school students through the American Chemical Society’s Project SEED program. The program provides hands-on experience for disadvantaged high school students in the laboratories of research mentors in RTP. Watch a video about the program.
• STARS (Science and Technology Activities in Rural Schools), coordinated by three of the department’s faculty, involves on-site visits to sixth and eighth grade science classes to provide quality science education to underserved schools.