Plan a Hands-on Science Event

No matter how small or large your community, or whether your event is in-person or virtual, find suggestions for hosting a hands-on science event or demonstration. Find information on planning, fundraising, promoting events, and more.

Organizing a Successful Event

Before Your Event

• Form an organizing committee. Contact local ACS members, K-12 schools, chemistry departments, community organizations, and businesses who share an interest in learning and teaching chemistry. See what resources they have available for your event. Distribute the customizable NCW Fact Sheet to potential committee members, demonstrators, and partnering organizations.
  • NCW Fact Sheet (docx)
• Recruit and train your volunteers. Professors, industry members, lab technicians, and chemistry students make great teach-in speakers. Make sure your community is well represented in your list of demonstrators.
• Choose a venue or digital platform to host your event. Request permission from potential venues (local school, library, museum, etc.) to host an event. Learn about event insurance coverage and request a certificate of insurance from ACS. Some online platforms require registration, others do not. Some platforms allow your broadcast to be recorded, others do not. Some ideas for digital platforms include Zoom, WebEx GoToWebinar, YouTube Live, Facebook Live, and Instagram Stories Live.
• Minimize risk for a safer event. Facilitating hands-on activities or performing chemistry demos in public outreach settings requires special safety considerations beyond the established standard operating procedures of your lab. Complete one RAMP worksheet for each hands-on activity or stage demo you take out of the lab, on the road, and into public spaces.  
  • Safety in Outreach Settings (PDF) 
  • RAMP Worksheet (PDF)
  • Letter of Introduction to School Admin (docx)
  • Event Insurance Coverage (PDF)
  • Request for a Certificate of Insurance (PDF)
• Get your event details in order. Check your space for exits and emergency equipment. Order any materials you don’t already have. Write a detailed procedure for the way the demonstration will be performed.Obtain photo release forms from partnering schools and other youth groups.
  • Photo Release and Consent Form (docx)
• Practice your hands-on activities or demo and test drive technology. Using your detailed written procedure, practice the hands-on activity or demo the way it will be performed to make sure it works correctly. Practice the virtual demo in front of a virtual test audience like your organizing committee and any other demonstrators. Ensure that all cameras and microphones work well, picture and sound are clear, and that volunteers handling the technology are comfortable with what they need to do (e.g., switching between demonstrators, monitoring questions from the audience, etc.).
• Fundraise for your event. This helpful fundraising guide contains ideas for funding sources, sample fundraising letters, acknowledgement letters, and more.
  • Community Outreach Fundraising Guide (PDF)
• Advertise via social media. Request NCW and ACS as a cohost of your event to add your event to the NCW Facebook and website calendar. Use artwork from the Design Toolkit for your social media events and posts. Create digital flyers and email them to local schools, teachers, and community groups who may be interested in attending your event. Partner with local businesses and leaders who can promote with you.
  • ACS National Chemistry Week Facebook page

During Your Event

• Distribute giveaway items. Disseminate NCW-themed merchandise and hard copies of Celebrating Chemistry to attendees. These products can be purchased through the ACS Store.
• Amplify your live event. Share live updates from your event on social media using the hashtags #ACS_NCW, #NationalChemistryWeek, and #Chemistry. Afterward, share the success of your event through local section newsletters, print, and other communications channels.
• Measure event success. Distribute surveys for attendees to complete to measure public impact and awareness.

Following Your Event

• Share the success of your event. Recap the success of your event through local section newsletters, print, and social media, using the hashtags #ACS_NCW, #NationalChemistryWeek, and #HealingPowerofChem.
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
• Show collective action. If hosting a virtual event, consider recording and posting your video online and on social media. Take screenshots of your demonstrators during their demonstrations. For both in-person and virtual events, share your screenshots, photos, and videos on the NCW Facebook page using the Event Submission Form. Obtain signed Photo Release and Consent Forms (docx) from anyone pictured in photos, screenshots, or videos.
• Thank your volunteers. Customize and (e)mail your volunteers, demonstrators, and committee members a Volunteer Thank You Letter (docx) and Certificate of Participation (docx) to thank them for pitching in their time and resources for ensuring that your event is a success.
  • Volunteer Thank You Letter (docx)
  • Certificates of Participation (docx)
• Apply for event awards. Your local section or division can compete for a ChemLuminary Award!