STEM Inspire Makes Splash with First Bay Area Event

Moore Li and Dylan Zhao getting their science on! The duo brought some seriously cool chemistry demos to Lonehill Park with their homemade STEM Inspire setup

Bubbles, colorful flames, and excited kids filled Lonehill Park as the first Bay Area chapter of STEM Inspire held its inaugural science demonstration event. Sophomore Moore Li, president and founder of the club, led the afternoon of hands-on experiments designed to spark interest in science among elementary-aged children.

The event featured two main demonstrations that drew approximately 8-10 children throughout the afternoon. The first was an elephant's toothpaste experiment, where Li and fellow volunteer Dylan Zhao from Kings Academy combined hydrogen peroxide with yeast to create a foamy reaction that kids could observe up close.

"We had to keep preparing more reactant because kids kept swinging by constantly," Li explained. The bubbles quickly turned the demonstration table into a colorful, messy science playground – exactly as intended.

Kids crowd around the duo as they create colorful chemical reactions. The elephant's toothpaste demo had everyone wide-eyed and asking for more!

The second demonstration featured colored flames, carefully controlled with safety measures in place including concrete surfaces, a bucket of water, and proper extinguishing equipment. This activity attracted one large family and several other children who were fascinated by the different colors produced by various chemical compounds.

"The whole table was covered with bubbles," Li recalled, noting that the evidence of the children's enthusiasm was clearly visible in the aftermath.

An ordinary day to a mind-blowing chemistry adventure.

When asked about future plans, Li mentioned possible refinements to the fire demonstration, potentially using a plexiglass enclosure for added safety. He's also considering experiments with gallium for future events.