As part of the Wayne Community College Science Club, Samantha Harlow, a chemical engineering major, and three other members of the club travelled to Holly Shelter Middle School in Castle Haynes, NC, to teach middle schoolers about chemical engineering. 

The group presented to four classes of 8th graders–nearly 100 students–about careers in STEM. Samantha’s presentation, “Science Magic Trick”, involved six beakers that were pretreated with six different pH indicators that would show up as different colors once they were deprotonated. She had the students hypothesize what was happening and discuss why understanding pH was important. The students were able to connect the “magic trick” to real-world applications of pH testing like when their parents use indicator strips to test the chlorine level in their pools or how hydrochloric acid helps digest their food everyday. 

“This was an extremely satisfying experience. Seeing the students excited by our presentations, hearing their questions and seeing their curiosity, even learning about the things they were studying in their science class filled me with a sense of hope for the future of STEM.”

Samantha is a non-traditional chemical engineering student in the department. Currently, she commutes two days a week to campus for classes while also working as a professional tutor at Wayne Community College in Goldsboro. Prior to transferring to NC State in 2023, she helped found the Science Club at Wayne Community College. 

Growing up, Samantha attended a rural middle and high school and was not exposed to careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. She did not want that to be the case for these students. During her presentation, she emphasized the problems humanity faces where STEM fields are best positioned to address and solve them. “I wanted to make science, chemistry in particular, fun and approachable and to hopefully spark some curiosity for them to pursue more information and opportunities,” says Samantha. 

In addition to chemical engineering, Samantha is passionate about science communication and reaching those who may feel like science is not for them. She is currently working with the Science Club president to cohost a podcast this summer that will make science more accessible and fun to the general public while still maintaining the integrity of the research and science behind the topics.  Kudos to Samantha for her work teaching middle schoolers about chemical engineering and science!