Chemistry prof Larry Louters will do his annual science demonstrations this week for local school children.
This is the 10th year for the science demos. As in past years, the demos will see Louters perform an enjoyable mix of education and entertainment designed to not only teach children some of the more basic laws of chemistry, but do so in a fun way that may encourage kids to pursue the study of cheminstry at the high school and college level. 
Louters's act is a blend of Mr. Rogers and David Copperfield as he mixes kind-hearted science instruction with explosions, flames, disappearing pennies, liquids that change colors and melting styrofoam cups. He'll make a balloon shrink and shrivel when dipped in liquid hydrogen and then magically reinflate it upon exposure to the air. He'll demonstrate what happened to the Hindenburg, burn an alcohol-soaked rag without actually burning the cloth, spill burning liquid methane on the floor of his lab and throw flaming paper in the air only to have it vanish without a trace. 
"It's fun for me," Louters says, "and I know the kids enjoy it too. And hopefully they'll learn a few things." 
Letters that Louters receives from students speak of both the enjoyment and the education that the seminars provide. 
"I enjoyed the big boom a lot," said one student. "Thank you for inviting us to your lab." Wrote another student: "Thank you for sharing your knowledge." And one girl thought it was "cool" when Louters "set fire to the towel and it didn't burn." 
Says Louters: "I figure if we can reach kids early enough, and get them excited about chemistry, maybe they'll remember it when they get to high school or college and want to take it again. The beautiful thing about these demonstrations is that they all want to be chemists afterwards."