Join us for Exploring Your Universe, our annual Science Day at UCLA. Demonstrations, hands-on activities, and more. Free admission! Go to event website.
Outreach Using Physics Demos
The Instructional Resource Lab, which provides lecture demonstrations for teaching physics and astronomy, also supports faculty and staff outreach efforts with demonstration equipment, advice and training. This is done as a purely volunteer activity. Below is a partial list of activities.
Kid's eye view of bed of nails, hair-raising electrostatic charge, pendulum motion of a bowling ball, and singing with helium (high) and sulfur hexaflouride (low).
07/18/13 Students from UCLA Lab School attend a demo show by Troy Carter.
05/29/13 Demo show led by Art at The Willows Community School.
03/07/13 Youth Motivation Day (YMD), hosted by the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES). A demo show presentation led by Garrett Reynolds, a graduate student at the physics department.
11/10/12 Explore Your Universe Event All day Saturday outreach event with hands-on exhibits, planetarium shows, fossils, telescopes.
07/19/12 Around 50 students from UCLA Lab School attend a demo show by Troy Carter at the UCLA Physics and Astronomy Department.
Spring 2012 Presentations by members of Science Lab Teaching Club at Nora Sterry Elementary School.
11/12/11 Explore Your Universe Event All day Saturday outreach event with hands-on exhibits, planetarium shows, fossils, telescopes.
(Video from 2011)
5/25/11 Students from Malibu High School visit the physics lecture demo lab and are led through a number of demonstrations with discussion on the key physics concepts involved.
3/27/11 Cesar Chavez Day. UCLA physics demonstration booth at Cesar Chavez Day celebration in Richie Valens Park in Pacoima.
2/25/11 Youth Motivation Day (YMD), organized by students in the Engineering Department at UCLA. 240 students from Monroe Middle School, John Adams Middle School, Parent Elementary, and Webster Middle School visited. UCLA physics demonstration tables for YMD in Engineering IV building at UCLA.
11/13/10 Exploring Your Universe Saturday event brought over 1300 students and family to a science festival event involving Astronomy Live!, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, Earth and Space Sciences, Nanotechnology, the planetarium and more. There were many hands on activities, talks, a holography workshop, and two physics demonstration shows. Pictures and Video here
7/15/10 Students from UCLA Lab School attend a demo show at the Physics and Astronomy Department. (click here to see pictures)
5/20/10 Students from Malibu High School visit the physics lecture demo lab and are led through a number of demos accompanied by a discussion of the physics involved.
4/22/10 Students from Carpenter Avenue Elementary School attend a demo show at the Physics and Astronomy Department.
3/28/10 Cesar Chavez Day (click link to see pictures). UCLA physics demonstration booth at Cesar Chavez Day celebration in the park.
11/14/09 Exploring Your Universe event brought over 1000 families and students to campus for hands on science activities.
2/20/09 Laser Teslathon and Presidential Briefing day and night outreach event. Celebrating the 50th year of lasers and the new administration in Washington, 300 people attended the event. Pictures and information here.
5/29/08 Approximately 175 fourth grade students from Lennox school attend a demo show by Art.
5/29/08 A couple dozen students from Malibu High visit the physics lecture demo lab and are led through several demos while participating in a discussion of the physics involved before and after each one.
3/30/08 UCLA physics demonstration booth at Cesar Chavez Day celebration in San Fernando.
3/26/08 150 physical science students from Paul Revere science magnet attend the second annual Paul Revere Day including talks from faculty, minilabs, planetarium shows, and physics demonstration show. See more pictures here.
3/26/08 60 students from Heschel Day school attend a demo show by Art.
3/17/08 Demo show at Willows school.
12/18/07 Southern California Physics Techs meeting at El Camino College.
11/2/07 UCLA, Day of the Dead 3-D Teslathon. 350 people attend an outside nighttime event on the Knudsen second floor patio featuring the life of Tesla and Tesla coils, a perfectly safe human electroshock machine, a death-defying walk over hot burning coals, lasers, UV lights, 3-D and much more.
6/25/07 (A) Demo show.
6/21/07 Southern California Physics Techs meeting at UCLA.
6/6/07 (A) Physics/Astro show in planetarium.
5/17/07 (A) Physics/Astro show in planetarium.
3/28/07 Physics concepts activity and demo show for students from Paul Revere, at UCLA.
3/15/07 (A) Demo show.
2/15/07 Demo shows in planetarium.
12/12/06 Southern California Physics Techs meeting at Cal State LA.
5/10/06 (A) Demo show.
5/5/06 (A) Demo show.
3/31/06 (U) Demo show.
3/2/06 (A) Demo show.
2/3/06 (A) Demo show.
1/27/06 Demo show for MESA students.
12/15/05 Southern California Physics Techs meeting at Mt. San Antonio College.
11/22/05 (A) Demo show.
8/1/05 (A) Demo show.
7/10/05 (T)Crestwood hills nursery school, 20 preschool kids and parents.
6/20/05 (A) 30 students from Mermin school for presentations at UCLA.
6/17/05 (U)
6/14/05 (M,B,N) Southern California Physics Techs meeting at Cal State Fullerton.
6/2/05 (A) Demonstration show at Malibu High.
5/19/05 (A, N) Physics/Astro show in planetarium for Marquez Elementary, 10 students + 10 adults
5/7/05 (U)
4/22/05 (U)
4/22/05 (G,T) Two groups of 50 fourth grade students for 20 minutes each as part of early academic outreach.
4/16/05 (B) The Saturday Science Institute, three classes of 30 high school students each on optics/reflection for early Academic Outreach, Math/Science Academy.
4/16/05 (M) The Saturday Science Institute, three classes of 30 high school students each on physics demonstrations for early Academic Outreach, Math/Science Academy.
4/15/05 (T) Demo show for Village School in Pacific Palisades, 20 kindergarten kids.
4/15/05 (A) Two shows at Pt Dume school for a total of about 300 students; one regular demo show and one show on electricity and magnetism.
4/1/05 (U) Demo show
3/10/05 (A) Planetarium show for Hertleberger School 50 students and two shows for MESA (Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement) about 20 students each.
3/4/05 (U) Demo show
2/28/05 (A) Willows school demo.
2/25/05 (A) Physics/Astro show in planetarium for computer sciencee group from Culver City, 17 students
12/16/04 (M,N) Physics technicians meeting at UC San Diego.
11/13/04 (M,N,A) Demo show for inauguration of the new Physics and Astronomy Building.
10/2/04 (U) Celebration of Books.
7/28/04 (A) Forty minute planetarium show for 60 high school stucents from Hawthorne HS
7/13/04 (A) Miniphysics and planetarium show for 35 grade school students in summer rocketry class.
6/30/04 (A) Miniphysics and planetarium show for 40 high school students in Summer Math-Science immersion program.
6/25/04 (A) Planetarium show and telescope viewing of the Moon and Jupiter for 10 cub scouts and 10 parents.
6/21/04 (A) One hour demo show in kn1220 for 50 students from Lennox School, and one hour demo show in Kn 1220 for 30 students from Mirman School for the Gifted.
6/21/04 (M) Demo show for 20 Quark net teachers.
5/13/04 (A) Two one hour physics/astronomy shows in the plantarium for Emerson school 6th graders 50 + 35 students
4/23/04 (A) Two one hour physics shows for New Roads School, total 100 kids. Joe Rudnick did the physics for the second show.
4/23/04 (A) Mini planetarium show and tour through demo lab for 10 Ques students
4/3/04 (U) Girl Scout's Science Fair.
3/28/04 (U) Celebra la Ciencia - Chavez Celebration.
3/23/04 (A) One hour demo show for 200 6th graders at Malibu High School.
3/2/04 (A) One hour demo show at Willow School for 40 6th graders.
2/18/04 (A) One hour planetarium show for 20 3rd grader and 8 adults from Warner school
2/13/04 (A) Talk on Relativistic Space travel for CSUN planetarium series.
11/15/03 (Manuel) Celebra la Ciencia - Centennial of Flight.
11/5/03 (A) One hour demo show for Kenter Canyon Elementary in evening, about 100.
8/6/03 (A) One hour planetarium show for 50 from Church of Christ singles group.
7/30/03 (A) Two one hour planetarium shows, about 40 each, Summer Bridge Program.
7/18/03 (A) Miniphysics/planetariun show for 6, Lutheran Church Youth group
7/17/03 (A) Demo show for 40 kids in rocketry class (Steve Kivelson's son) in Kn 1220
6/24/03 (A)Planetarium show for UCLA Student Affairs group (about 40).
6/24/03 (A) Planetarium show for Summer Math Science Immersion high school students (about 40).
6/23/03 (A) One-hour demo show for Summer Migrant Workers Program (about 40).
6/23/03 (A) One-hour demo show for 20 students from Mirman School for the Gifted.
6/19/03 (M) Hosted all-day meeting of 20 physics technical staff from universities and colleges from Santa Cruz to San Diego.
6/13/03 (A) Talk "The Birth and Death of Stars" for the Santa Monica Astronomy club
5/22/03 (A) Two one hour Planetarium-mini physics shows for Emerson School, total 100 6th graders.
6/13/03 (A)Talk "The Birth and Death of Stars" for the Santa Monica Astronomy club (about 20).
6/11/03 (M) 3-D slide show for 100 parents and students at Brentwood Science Magnet.
5/22/03 (A) Two one hour Planetarium-mini physics shows for Emerson School, total 100 6th graders.
5/17/03 (Manuel and Morales) Physics booth at outdoor Festival - Celebration of Books.
5/15/03 (M) One and one-half hour demo show for 70 3rd and 4th graders from Brentwood Science Magnet.
5/10/03 (Manuel) School demo show.
4/23/03 (A) Two one hour Planetarium-mini physics shows for New Roads School, total 100 kids. Joe Rudnick did the physics for the second show.
4/10/03 (A) One hour demo show for 175 6th graders at Malibu High School.
3/29/03 (Manuel) Celebra La Ciencia - Cezar Chavez Celebration
3/18/03 (M) Meeting with Berkeley Physics department to demonstrate our ePhysics website and develop a collaboration for the development and use of ePhysics in instruction. ePhysics is available to high schools, colleges, and individuals all over the world over the web.
2/25/03 (A) Demo show for 50 forth graders at Willow school.
2/19/03 (A)Planetarium show for 50 students in UCLA outreach program.
1/15/03 (A) Planetarium show followed by telescope viewing for 30 seniors from an Armenian Private High School
12/12/02 (A) Two one hour planetarium shows for Palisades Elementary
11/14/02 (A) Planetarium show for UCLA Development Goup
6/24/02 (A) One hour demo show for 40 middle school students from the Mirman School for Gifted Kids.
6/24/02 (M) One hour demo show for 40 high school seniors in the Summer Migrant Program.
6/22/02 (M) Three hour workshop for LAUSD science teachers on using physics demonstrations in the classroom.
6/4/02 (A) One hour evening demo show for Science Night at Kenter Canyon School for 50 parents and students.
5/24/02 (A) One hour demo show for 30 eight graders from CUES program for inner city kids.
5/24/02 (M) One hour demo show for 60 second graders at Brentwood Science Magnet.
5/15/02 (A) One hour demo show for 37 eighth graders from Archer School.
5/9/02 (A) One hour demo show at Malibu School for 200 sixth graders.
5/1/02 (A) 30 minute demo show on electromagnetism for 40 fourth graders at Topanga Elementary.
4/11/02 (M + A) 45 minute demo show for 75 fourth graders visiting from Lennox school.
3/18/02 (M) One hour in classroom demonstrations for 60 third graders at Brentwood Science Magnet.
3/14/02 (M) Hands-on demonstrations for 90 fourth graders from the Beverly Hills Gate program.
3/5/02 (A) Planetarium show and viewing the Sun for 19 third graders and 8 adults from Westwood School.
2/26/02 (A) Talk on Time travel to 20 UCLA dormitory students.
2/19/02 (A) Two one hour demo shows at Willow school -- 30 4th graders, and 60 6th-8th graders.
2/5/02 (A) Demo show for 300 students --- Marina del Rey Middle school.
8/28/01 (A) One hour demo show for 35 students in the COPE program from Venice area.
8/1/01 (A) One hour mini demo and planetarium show for 35 students in Centenilla High.
6/29/01 (A) One hour planetarium show on Mars for 40 6th graders from Merman School for the Gifted.
6/25/01 (A) Two one hour demo shows: 42 visiting students in Migrant Scholars Program About 40 6th graders from Merman School for the Gifted.
6/20/01 (M) Two one hour demo shows at Brentwood Science Magnet for 80 second grade students.
6/14/01 (A) One hour demo show at Malibu High School for 180 middle school students.
6/9/01 (A) Two one hour demo shows on Saturday in Kn 2-115 for 40 AP CUES students.
6/08/01 (M) California/Nevada Physics Education meeting at the Exploratorium in San Francisco. Short presentation on magnetic levitation.
6/1/01 (A) One hour mini demo and planetarium show for 50 students in CUES program.
5/31/01 (A) Half hour demo show for 20 students from San Pedro Middle school in planetarium.
5/18/01 (M and Enrique) Three one-half hour shows for 180 4th graders from a Hispanic engineering outreach program, and a one hour show for 40 8th grade honor students from Willowbrook Middle School in Knudsen Hall.
4/24/01 (A) One hour planetarium show for Prof. Pellegrini's honors class, 20 students.
4/10/03 (A) One hour demo show for 175 6th graders at Malibu High School
4/12/01 (A) Two one hour demo shows at Willow Community School in Culver City for 40 4th graders and then 40 middle school students.
4/6/01 (A) One hour demo show in Kn 2-115 for 50 inner city kids in Cues program.
3/17/01 (A) Saturday morning one hour demo show in Kn 1240 for 40 special students from Pacoima Middle School.