Flinders researchers dazzled the crowds at this year’s Science Alive with a high impact Chemistry Show exploring the (sometimes explosive) relationship between chemistry and light.

Dr Just Chalker led a team of 10 undergraduate and post-graduate Flinders students as they ran a series of eye-catching experiments resulting in dramatic colour changes, bright lights and explosive reactions to celebrate National Science Week.

The shows, in partnership with the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI), attracted thousands of people over three days at the Royal Adelaide Showground.

“It was really rewarding to see how the audience engaged with the experiments,” said Dr Chalker.

“Many of the people watching were parents with young children, so we really hope we’ve inspired some budding young scientists of the future.”

Dr Chalker’s Science Show was just one of the Flinders activities at Science Alive, with the University’s School of Chemical and Physical Sciences also manning a booth at the Showground.

Science Alive organiser Brian Haddy said the Chemistry Show was one of the largest interactive science education events in the southern hemisphere.

For more on Science Alive, click here, or for information about Flinders Univeristy’s School of Chemical and Physical Sciences, click here.