UTC engineering group inspires young scientists during National Chemistry Week visit

Jacob Pratt, left, David Brown, Eli Duran, Karla Coronado, Dr. Reetesh Ranjan, Dr. Murat Barisik, Atal Bhowmik, Khowshik Dey, Ezgi Satiroglu and Ege Can Ek recently participated in a National Chemistry Week event at Orchard Knob Elementary School. Photo by Dr. Sandra Affare.

In celebration of National Chemistry Week, 11 members of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga College of Engineering and Computer Science brought chemistry to life for Orchard Knob Elementary School students on Friday, Oct. 25, as part of an ongoing Department of Energy (DOE) research project.

National Chemistry Week, held this year from Oct. 20-26, is a public awareness campaign that promotes the value of chemistry in everyday life. The campaign’s mission of connecting chemistry to daily life was furthered by UTC’s dedication to community outreach, empowering young students to see themselves as future scientists and stewards of the environment.

Mechanical engineering faculty members Dr. Murat Barisik and Dr. Reetesh Ranjan and engineering management and technology faculty member Dr. Sandra Affare were accompanied to Orchard Knob by graduate students Ezgi Satiroglu, Ege Can Ek, Atal Bhowmik, Khowshik Dey, Jacob Pratt and Eli Duran, and undergraduate students Karla Coronado and David Brown.

Satiroglu is a graduate research assistant in the computational engineering Ph.D. program. Ek, Bhowmik, Dey, Pratt and Duran are graduate research assistants in the mechanical engineering master’s program. Coronado and Brown are seniors majoring in mechanical engineering.

The UTC group introduced chemistry through story time, experiment demonstrations and engaging presentations with the K-5 students—and highlighted the careers of iconic chemists Marie Curie and Mario Molina.

The event kicked off by showcasing everyday chemistry in fun, relatable ways, like making pancakes. This was followed by hands-on activities such as inflating a balloon with baking soda and vinegar—where students engaged directly and learned the science behind each reaction.

David Brown, a UTC senior majoring in mechanical engineering, presented experiments to the Orchard Knob Elementary School students. Photo by Dr. Sandra Affare.

Brown said that seeing a younger generation fascinated by science was inspiring.

“The students were excited, asking very good questions and eager to try this experiment at their own home,” Brown said. “It was especially interesting to hear some say they wanted to pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).”

Presentations on Curie and Molina showcased their groundbreaking contributions to science and society. Curie, renowned for her pioneering work on radioactivity and as the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, was featured to inspire young girls in the audience and illustrate the impactful role of women in science.

Satiroglu presented Curie’s story.

“This was a wonderful way to introduce young minds to science and show them how women have substantially contributed to science, technology, engineering and math fields despite all the difficulties,” Satiroglu said. “Their eagerness and wonder reminded me why exposing children to role models who overcame huge obstacles is so important.”

Molina, renowned for his research on the effects of chlorofluorocarbons on the ozone layer and the first Mexican-born American scientist to receive a Nobel Prize in chemistry, demonstrated the importance of chemistry in addressing global environmental issues.

Coronado introduced Molina’s life and said that it was amazing to see the students get so involved with the demonstrations.

“They were attentive and able to relay the knowledge that they already knew quite well,” Coronado said. “I was surprised by how much they did know, as I feel like I didn’t know nearly as much as they did when I was their age.”

In 2023, Barisik was the principal investigator on a DOE research grant titled “First Principles Multiphase Modeling of Mesoscale Gas Transport in Porous Reactive Systems.” Part of the grant involves community outreach and increasing interest in STEM-related fields.

These initiatives strengthen UTC’s connection with the Chattanooga community, inspiring young students and investing in the future of education and innovation in the region.

“We aim to spark a love for science while educating young minds about pressing real-world issues,” Barisik said. “By connecting our DOE research efforts with accessible learning activities, we hope students see both the fun in science and its importance in solving today’s challenges.”

Ranjan spoke about UTC’s impact in the Chattanooga area.

“We are dedicated to community outreach by actively engaging local elementary schools with programs that make STEM learning exciting and accessible,” Ranjan said. “Such an approach relies on the notion of sowing the seeds of STEM at an early stage to nurture foundations for the future generation.”

UTC’s visit to Orchard Knob, Barisik said, demonstrated how DOE-funded research initiatives can extend beyond the lab and into the community, aiming to cultivate a lasting interest in science and environmental stewardship among future generations.