HPU Students and Faculty Share Science Fun at Qubein Children’s Museum

High Point University students and faculty recently shared fun science activities with local children and families at the Nido and Mariana Qubein Children’s Museum during the second annual SciQuest Spectacular. Pictured at left were Dr. Briana Fiser, dean of the Wanek School of Natural Sciences, and HPU student Lauren Rumble, as they discussed lava lamps with children in the Qubein Children’s Museum lobby.

HIGH POINT, N.C., July 1, 2025 – High Point University students and faculty recently shared fun science activities with local children and families at the Nido and Mariana Qubein Children’s Museum during the second annual SciQuest Spectacular.

Thirty-six HPU student volunteers, two alumni and 15 faculty mentors presented interactive science activities to children in the community on June 27. Among the activities, children were able to harness the power of the sun to make sun prints, taste edible DNA, pet insects, see instant snow and view stars inside a mobile planetarium, which is a collaboration between HPU’s Natural Sciences Fellows, its Department of Physics and the on-campus Culp Planetarium. More than 880 guests attended the event.

“We returned to the Nido and Mariana Qubein Children’s Museum for our second annual SciQuest Spectacular after a huge success in 2024 and ongoing monthly science outreach events at the museum throughout the 2024-25 academic year,” said Dr. Kelsey Kean, assistant professor of chemistry and director of HPU’s Summer Research Program in the Sciences (SuRPS). “Last summer, many of our summer research students cited this event at the Children’s Museum as the highlight of their whole summer. While our students and faculty are on campus this summer doing research as part of HPU’s SuRPS, science communication is a huge part of being a scientist, so it is worthwhile to get out of the research lab and into the community. Plus, many of our students and faculty found their spark for science at a similar event as kids, so it’s cool for them to pay it forward.”

Local children got excited about science as they participated in various activities, said Dr. Briana Fiser, dean of the Wanek School of Natural Sciences.

“I think that’s one of the major reasons why we do this, to bring the joy of science to them and help them see how exciting, interesting and doable it is,” Fiser said. “Everyone can be a scientist, including them. They’re here mixing and making experiments happen. That gives them confidence and hopefully helps them see there are a lot of paths available to them in their future.”

Rather than simply listening to someone talk about science, this event allowed children to experience it for themselves in a festival atmosphere. Sophomore biology majors Jordan Havert and Tyler Janick watched children’s excitement build as they used litmus strips to test the acid level of common foods. They were surprised, for example, to discover egg whites and yolks have different pH levels. Parents also expressed surprise at the acidic pH level of Coca-Cola because of its sweet taste, Janick said.

“We saw a lot of smiles and some bright eyes as they reacted to the different colors,” said Janick, who is from Quakertown, Pennsylvania. “They get curious and want to mix things up. You can mix lemon with baking powder, and it will be neutral. They find that cool. We try to explain at a level they can understand.”

The taste of Sour Patch Kids helped explain acidity in foods to the children, said Havert, who is from Johnson City, Tennessee. “They like the hands-on aspect of the colors and lining them up,” she said.

SciQuest offered an opportunity for families to come together to experience hands-on science activities in a low-risk and fun-filled environment, said Lisa Garrison, the museum’s education and programs director.

“Our objective is to allow children to see science in a real-world setting,” Garrison said. “We want them to be able to envision themselves as scientists. Not all scientists wear lab coats. We want them to see that scientists can be men or women of any race. We also want them to see there are all kinds of sciences, such as biology, physics and chemistry. That’s why we partner with the various schools through HPU. It’s a good way for the university to have outreach with the community as well. It lets kids envision themselves as college students.”

HPU and the museum will co-host the next SciQuest event on Sept. 24, with others planned for later in the fall.