“Science is Fun Summer Extravaganza” scheduled with noted science educator

Bassam Shakhashiri, whose “Science is Fun” demonstrations have been a tradition in Madison for 42 years, will present a “Summer Extravaganza” on campus June 25.

“I want to share the joy of doing science experiments with kids of all ages,” says Shakhashiri, a professor of chemistry at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. “I’ve been doing this a long time, and I’ve learned what it takes to entertain and educate an audience at the same time.”

Held just before Independence Day, the show will feature experiments related to the science of fireworks.

“I want to make cerebral and emotional connections with what we see visually, what we hear and experience,” Shakhashiri says. “It’s learning through the senses.”

The show will explore the intersection of science with the performing arts, and a percussionist will help perform experiments related to sound.

“Traditional musical instruments, after all, are physical representations of the sound they make,” says Shakhashiri. “The pitch, the overtones that add richness to a sound, are all visible in the structure of the instrument. We want to show how this happens, and let the audience hear for themselves.”

As president of the American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific organization, time is tight for Shakhashiri this year.

“We have a limited capacity, and I’m only doing the June demonstration,” says Shakhashiri, so reservations will be necessary.

The demonstration will take place on Monday, June 25, at 5:30 p.m. in room 1351 of the Daniels Chemistry Building, 1101 University Ave. Attendance is limited to 350 people; reservations are required and can be made at http://www.scifun.org.