Chemistry Outreach
We share our work with the campus and community to help others understand how chemistry affects us all.
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.
Below is a list of some types of activities we engage in and how to contact us.
You want us to visit you
If you are interested in having someone from the Chemistry Department come to you for an even and/or to give a presentation, send an email to chemoutreach@ncsu.edu with the following information:
- Type of organization (primary/high school, college, business, etc.)
- Location
- Possible dates/times (if known)
- Activity (talk, hands-on demo, presentation, question and answer, etc.)
- Target audience (and approximate number of people, if known)
- Any relevant links where we can find more information
You want to visit NC State
If you are interested in organizing a trip to NC State and you would like to visit the Chemistry Department or interact with the members of our department , send an email to chemoutreach@ncsu.edu with the following information:
- Who you want to bring (primary/high school students, prospective students, etc.)
- Possible dates/times (if known)
- What you want to do (visit labs, participate in hands-on demos, interact with graduate students, etc.)
- Where you will be coming from
- If you have any other plans while visiting (and if you would like any suggestions or help organizing those plans)
- Any relevant links where we can find more information
You want us to attend your event
If you are organizing an event and you would like members of the Chemistry Department to participate, send an email to chemoutreach@ncsu.edu with the following information:
- A description of the event and the participants
- The date and time
- The location
- A description of what you would like us to do (staff a booth with demos, give a talk, etc.)
- Any relevant links where we can find more information
Something else
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 that is not listed above 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.
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.
Last Reviewed On: 5/21/2025