Once upon a Christmas cheery in the lab of Shakhashiri

Chemistry professor Bassam Z. Shakhashiri will present his annual Holiday Lecture — an hour of kid-pleasing science experimentation — Dec. 1-2 at UW–Madison.

The 32nd annual program will consist of dazzling experiments with liquids that glow in the dark; exploding balloons; floating soap bubbles; “mystery guests” including Santa Claus and Bucky Badger; and other surprises.

“This program is a gift to the community and is offered in the best traditions of the Wisconsin Idea,” says Shakhashiri. “The main purposes are to share the joy of science with kids of all ages, and to promote understanding and appreciation of science among all members of the community.”

The show always plays to packed audiences, and has been staged in Madison, Boston, Washington, D.C., and elsewhere. While on leave from UW–Madison to serve as National Science Foundation assistant director for science and engineering education, Shakhashiri presented his show at the National Academy of Sciences and at the Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum.

“It is always rewarding for me to see the look on the faces of kids of all ages as they learn about combustion, glowing liquids and spectacular color changes,” Shakhashiri says.

To obtain free tickets to one of the programs Dec. 1-2, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope, and indicate a first and second preference for date and time of show, and the number of tickets needed. Requests will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. The Saturday, 1 p.m. show is already full, but a few tickets are available for 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 1, and 1 and 4 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 2.

Requests should be mailed to: Christmas Lecture Tickets, UW Chemistry Department, 1101 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706-1392. More information is online.

Wisconsin Public Television will videotape the program for broadcast in December. In Wisconsin, the program will be shown at 3:30 p.m., Monday, Dec. 24, and 8 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 30. For date and time of PBS telecast elsewhere, check local television listings.