Carleton University’s Department of Chemistry Outreach Office is back with its annual Chemistry Magic Show on Sunday, March 10th!

Come see flames, explosions, amazing colour changes, things that glow in the dark, and so much more! Our goal for this event is to inspire, entertain and inform. We aim to wow you with these chemical demonstrations, highlight the underlying chemical and scientific principles behind them, and explain their applications and impacts on our everyday lives.

Show Information

Join the conversation on social media using #CUChemMagic and tag us @CarletonScience

Offering Three Magic Shows… in One Day!

The first show begins in Richcraft Hall at 10:30 a.m. with two more at 1:00 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. respectively. Each show will last about 1 hour. This free event features fun targeted at the whole family with explosions, a look at the inner workings of fireworks, reactions that can tell time, and things that glow in the dark. The show is appropriate and fun for everyone ages 5 and up. Please be aware that there will be loud noises that may scare some younger children.

Hands-On Activities

Get a chance to make ice cream with liquid nitrogen, encounter interesting smells, see some of the demonstrations up close, and much more. Hands-on activities will start at 9:30 a.m. and run until 3:30 p.m. in the Superlab (Steacie Building, room 204 and Richcraft Hall Atrium).

Free Admission with Registration

Instead of charging admission for this event, we will be accepting donations of cash and non-perishable food for the Ottawa Food Bank. We do this because we want our event to be open and accessible to everyone in our city.

As both educators and parents, those of us that coordinate Carleton’s Chemistry Magic Show recognize that it is hard to learn when you are hungry and struggling in school can have life-long implications. Food poverty and insecurity also disproportionately impacts children. That’s why we direct all cash donations to the Ottawa Food Bank’s programs that support food in Ottawa-area schools.

Please see below for information on how to register for each show time.

Locations and Parking on Campus

Shows: Richcraft Hall, room 2200
Hands-On Activities: Steacie Building, room 204 & Richcraft Hall Atrium
Campus Map: https://carleton.ca/campus/map/
Parking Options: Free parking available in P9 – parking garage beside Pigiarvik & P16 – Richcraft Building (underground) and University Drive

Event Contacts

Jessie Cartwright, Outreach and Community Engagement Officer
jessie.cartwright@carleton.ca

Professor Jeff Manthorpe
jeff.manthorpe@carleton.ca

Registration

Registration is required to attend the magic show as seats are limited to 335 per show. When you arrive, you will be required to check-in at a registration desk. Every person in your party must be registered individually for the correct show time. Walk-ups (those who have not registered in advance) may join a standby line but we cannot guarantee seats will be available in the auditorium. We will also live stream the show in an overflow room on campus if there is no space remaining in the auditorium.

Hands-On Activities

Steacie Building and Richcraft Hall Atrium
9:30 AM – 3:30 PM

Chemistry Magic Show #1

Richcraft Hall
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

This show is at capacity. Registration is no longer possible for this show. Please note that there is an option to wait in a standby line or view the show virtually from our overflow room. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Chemistry Magic Show #2

Richcraft Hall
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

This show is at capacity. Registration is no longer possible for this show. Please note that there is an option to wait in a standby line or view the show virtually from our overflow room. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Chemistry Magic Show #3

Richcraft Hall
3:45 PM – 4:45 PM

This show is at capacity. Registration is no longer possible for this show. Please note that there is an option to wait in a standby line or view the show virtually from our overflow room. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Chemistry Magic Show