Bouncy balls and beyond: Collaborative project connects science with community

A bouncy ball may seem like a simple toy, but for a group of Penn State graduate students, it has become a powerful way to help children and families understand how materials behave — and how science connects to everyday life.

Through “Mission: Materials Science,” a long-running outreach initiative supported by Penn State’s U.S. National Science Foundation-funded Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC), graduate students from across disciplines have partnered with museum educators and media professionals to transform materials science research into free, hands-on learning activities. The newest collection, recently launched online, adds four experiments designed for children ages 8 to 13.

MRSEC and the Franklin Institute have partnered on projects since 2001. The project began as a collaboration with the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, where MRSEC researchers helped create tabletop exhibits for museum visitors. Over time, it evolved into a digital platform of do-it-yourself activities that can be completed at home or used in classrooms with commonly available supplies. Today, the initiative is led in close partnership with Discovery Space of Central Pennsylvania.

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