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Watching chemists thriving in their research environments was extremely inspiring.  I loved seeing how passionate they were about Chemistry.

Pine View School High School Student , Chemathon 2025 Attendee

Outreach is an essential part of UF Chemistry’s mission, extending the excitement of science beyond the laboratory and classroom and into the community. Faculty, staff, and students work together through a variety of avenues to share the wonder of chemistry through community events, hands-on demonstrations, interactive experiments, and elementary and high school classroom visits. These activities emphasize the role of chemistry in everyday life and aim to inspire the next generation of scientists by sparking curiosity about the molecular world.

Outreach events are both on and off campus. The department hosts popular events such as Chemathon, a one-day program for high school students and teachers, and is home to several graduate and undergraduate student-led organizations, such as the ACS award-winning UF Chemistry Club. Faculty and students visit local schools, community centers, and science fairs to interact with and inspire the next generation of young scientists. Many faculty members have also created their own outreach initiatives as part of the Broader Impacts component of their NSF grants.

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Outreach News

A group of young students and parents sitting on the carpet attentively watching a chemistry demonstration at a nearby table.

Outreach Event: Harry Potter Potions

Chemistry Club volunteers created interactive Harry Potter-themed activities and chemistry demonstrations on Oct. 10, 2026 at the Millhopper Branch Library.

Event flyer for the Chemistry Club Homecoming Tabling event. Three smiling students stand in front of orange and blue balloons.

Outreach Event: Homecoming Tabling

Chemistry Club members organized an interactive slime-making demo during the Oct. 9 Homecoming Tabling event. Children, students, and adults learned about the principles of cross-linking and polymer chemistry in a fun and engaging experience.

A group of UF Chemistry students and middle school students standing around tables set with chemistry experiments

Lincoln Middle School’s STEAM Night

Chemistry Club volunteers participated in Lincoln Middle School’s STEAM Night on Sept. 15, 2026, joining other organizations and community groups to provide students and their families with engaging, hands-on learning experiences. Our volunteers led an interactive “Painting with Electrolysis” activity, introducing students to the fundamental principles of electrochemistry through a creative and artistic experiment. By combining science and art, students were able to explore electrochemical reactions in a fun, accessible way while seeing how chemistry can be applied beyond the classroom.

Collage of four photos showing people working in a science lab, performing chemistry demonstrations, and attending a lecture

Spicing Up Science: Chemathon 2026 Draws Record Crowds

Chemathon 2026, inspired by the National Chemistry Week theme of “The Hidden Life of Spices”, was another huge success: 30 schools, 206 high school students, 61 teachers/chaperones!

A large group of diverse people smile and pose for a photo in an auditorium, with several wearing t-shirts featuring logos such as "EXTREME SOFTBALL", "FLORIDA", and an orange "UT" design.

Two Florida outreach programs highlighted in recent Issue of Ytori

Profs. Ashlyn Hale and Adam Veige lead Florida outreach programs turning science into an unforgettable experience for young learners. Click to read more or visit our Outreach page to learn more about Chemathon and Molecular Mania.