Emily Tsui, assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, spent a recent afternoon teaching seventh and eighth graders at St. Adalbert Catholic School in South Bend about phase change and temperature. Graduate students Moises Ballesteros and Keith Schival, along with postdoctoral researcher Gregory Kortman, led a hands-on experience involving salt and ice while demonstrating the basics of scientific method and safety. Students improved their familiarity with metrics measurements, heat transfer, and phase change while interacting with real scientists.

Pouring liquid nitrogen into cream, sugar, and vanilla to create ice cream and a cloud of vapor was the highlight of the experience. “I can’t wait for my mom to ask me what I did in school today,” one student exclaimed. While enjoying the treat, the Notre Dame contingent talked about life as chemists and graduate school.

Professor Tsui has been working with St. Adalbert’s middle school math and science teacher, Kevin Hite, since last spring. Brought together by ND Energy, the two groups hope to learn from each other through an on-going partnership and visits to each other’s campuses.

St. Adalbert Catholic School aims to provide a quality education, religious experience, and service opportunities to aid the total development of each student. Located on South Bend's west side, the school has served the city's immigrant Catholic population since 1910.

ND Energy is a University Research Center whose mission is to build a better world by creating new energy technologies and systems and educating individuals to help solve the most critical energy challenges facing our world today. For more information, visit the ND Energy website at energy.nd.edu or contact Barbara Villarosa, Business and Communications Program Director, at bvillaro@nd.edu or 574-631-4776.