On April 7, 2018, the second ACS-TJU Chemistry Festival, jointly organized by the American Chemical Society and the Health Science Platform (HSP) of Tianjin University, was held in front of Building 24, Weijin Road Campus. The aim of this activity is to help people, especially children, realize some of the extraordinary chemical designs in our daily life, and let children set up a systematic concept of chemistry. 

Rotate the constellation with your fingertips! Detect the acid alkaline quality of water using purple cabbage! Chew gum with chocolate and it will disappear! You can't even tell whether the mixture of corn starch and water is a liquid or a solid. 

A series of fascinating experiments attracted more than 5,000 passersby from different ages. They wore lab coats, goggles and gloves under the guidance of volunteers, and tried to feel and understand the related principles and phenomena of eight interesting experiments, including polymers, indicators, non-Newtonian fluids, emulsifiers, ultraviolet, luminescent molecules, and atom splicing, with their own vision, taste and touch.  

Small experiments, big reasons: Happy life, happy research. Feeling the meaning of science through play makes many children very excited. 

Many children asked: "Will there be more tomorrow? I want to come!" 

"Can you do this once a month?" 

"Can I volunteer next time?"  

Most parents of these children and some "big friends" praised the activity too, "Although my child is only three years old, and she can't fully understand what chemistry is, or what scientific research is, this activity has already planted the seeds of scientific research in his heart. " exclaimed one mother happily. 

It is the responsibility of Tianjin University to cultivate children's interest in science and improve the scientific literacy of the whole nation. This year’s activity has passed into history, but we hope that the pursuit of scientific spirit can be passed on forever, and the seeds of science in their heart will grow into towering trees, which will support the sky of Chinese scientific research someday! 

By: Cui Can, Zhang Ruijuan, Liu Yuan, School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences

Editors: Qin Mian and Keith Harrington