March 13, 2013

For Immediate Release

University Marketing & Communications: Mike Rigert (801) 863-6807

Written by: Karissa Neely (801) 863-6807

Utah Valley University’s Department of Chemistry will host an inaugural Chemistry Week March 18-22 with various activities on campus for students and the community.

The highlight of the week will be on Friday, March 22, at 6 p.m. when the public is invited to the department’s Chemistry Magic Show in the Science Building auditorium, room 134. The chemistry department faculty will be hosting the event themed “Chemistry at Home.” The show is free and open to the public.

“This show will feature magical experiments and demos that the public can repeat safely at home,” said Merrill Halling, UVU assistant professor of chemistry. “We would like to invite local elementary, junior high and high school students.”

UVU students will have some chemistry fun of their own March 19 at noon when will have the opportunity to chuck whipped cream pies at their chemistry professors during the Chemistry Club fundraiser, “Pie Your Professor.” The fundraiser is to help expand the club’s community outreach efforts involving the promotion of chemistry activities with local elementary schools.

On March 21, UVU chemistry students will help judge the regional public school science fair projects at BYU.

“The goal for Chemistry Week is to promote a love of science in our local community and make the public familiar with our chemistry program,” Halling said. “BYU does Chem Week in the fall, and the U of U does one near Christmas, so we want to get ours started and make it an annual event.”

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About UVU

Utah Valley University is located in Orem, Utah, and is home to more than 30,000 students. UVU began as a vocational school during World War II, and in the seven decades since has evolved into a technical school, community school, state college and, finally, a comprehensive regional teaching university. UVU is one of Utah’s largest institutions of higher learning and offers programs ranging from career training to high-demand master degrees, with emphasis on undergraduate education.