AirUCI is hosting its first-ever New Swan Science Faire in collaboration with UCI's Office of Research! Explore the living chemistry of air, clouds, fire, and smoke in a fun-filled evening of scientific discovery, crafts, and impromptu performances.
Free and open to all!
Please register so that AirUCI can better plan for your visit.
Join UCI scientists — from undergraduate students to leading researchers — as they bring their cutting-edge work to life through hands-on activities, live experiments, and stunning demonstrations. Whether you're curious about the air you breathe, the clouds overhead, or the hidden chemistry of fire and smoke, there's something here to fascinate everyone. Hint: They’re all linked! Come explore, ask questions, and get inspired!
Explore the stations:
- Every time You Brake, You Pollute. Did you know that hitting the brakes on your car releases tiny invisible particles into the air? Watch a one-of-a-kind braking simulation chamber recreate car braking, while a live high-tech sensor reveals what’s hiding in the air. It'll change the way you think about traffic!
- What’s in the Air – and In Your Breath? Our scientists use state-of-the-art instruments to measure the invisible gases and particles floating around us right now. Want to know what chemicals you're exhaling? Breathe into our analyzer and find out what your last meal left behind — you might be surprised! We'll also show a live display of real-time local air quality data.
✨ Also at this table: Ghost Bubbles — These are not your typical bubbles. Each one holds a swirling, ghostly world within made of tiny suspended water droplets – shimmering, drifting and vanishing in a breathtaking cloud the moment you touch it.
- Radioactivity is Everywhere – Here’s the Proof. Radioactivity sounds scary, but it's a natural part of our world! Hold a Geiger-Mueller counter near everyday objects and hear it click as it detects radiation in real time. It's safe, it's fascinating, and it'll completely change your idea of what "radioactive" really means.
- This is What Pollution Does to Your Lungs: See a real human lung up close and learn what years of air pollution or cigarette smoking actually does to it.
- Air Pollution Through the Ages: Air pollution isn't new — Shakespeare's London was choking on coal smoke, and the 1930s Dust Bowl turned the skies of America brown. Explore this eye-opening visual journey through centuries of air pollution, and discover how today's challenges compare to the crises of the past.
- Step into the world of wildfire science. Our scientists will demonstrate exactly what happens when wood is exposed to heat – revealing the fascinating and complex chemistry that quickly unfolds. Explore real protective gear – including a mask used on the front lines – and learn why wildfire science is one of the hottest fields of research today.
- Air Collected from Around the World: Our scientists have traveled the globe — from remote jungles to busy cities — collecting air samples in special canisters. Come see these real samples and hear the stories behind them: How do you capture air in the Amazon? What does the atmosphere smell like over the Pacific Ocean? Find out here!
✨ Also at this table: Under the careful supervision of our trained scientists, watch a fresh flower be transformed by extreme cold into a solid in seconds— and see its petals shatter like glass!
- Clouds, Nature’s Chemistry Lab: Clouds aren't just pretty — they're powerful chemical reactors! Watch a real mist chamber collect gases from the air into water, see live computer models tracking how pollution drifts across continents, and take in a breathtaking 24-hour time-lapse from a 325-meter tower deep in the Amazon rainforest — where clouds and jungle meet in real time.
For information, contact Julia Lupton, jrlupton@uci.edu.