MORGANTOWN — Families, students and curious minds filled the ground floor of White Hall on Saturday afternoon as West Virginia University Department of Physics and Astronomy hosted its Physics and Astronomy Demo Day, an interactive event designed to make science approachable and engaging.
Held from noon to 3 p.m., the free event featured a wide range of hands-on demonstrations covering topics such as astronomy, electricity and magnetism, mechanics, optics and thermodynamics. Visitors had the opportunity to explore scientific concepts through interactive displays — including a popular station where attendees made ice cream using liquid nitrogen.
The event, organized in partnership with the WVU Physics and Astronomy Graduate Student Organization, aimed to break down common misconceptions about physics.
“The goal is really just to make physics more accessible and show the community how fun it can be,” said Sloane Sirota, a graduate student involved in the event. “There’s a stigma that physics is this really hard subject, but there’s so much more to it.”
Demonstrations ranged from comparing images of Earth and Mars to highlight their similarities, to visual models explaining how massive objects warp space-time. Many exhibits encouraged participation, allowing attendees — especially younger visitors — to engage directly with scientific ideas.
“It’s always great to see the new little scientists,” Sirota said. “Sometimes kids come up and start sharing facts, and it’s amazing to see how much people really want to learn.”
The event also served as a reminder of the importance of community access to science education. According to Sirota, outreach efforts like Demo Day help spark curiosity and create opportunities for learning beyond the classroom.
“When you have events like this, you realize how much people would do if they had more access,” she said. “We love having the chance to explain things and connect with the community.”
Physics and Astronomy Demo Day was part of Remake Learning Days, a global initiative promoting hands-on educational experiences for youth and families.
While similar events have been held in the past, organizers hope to establish a more consistent schedule moving forward. In addition to Demo Day, the department also hosts a “Physics Magic Show” in the fall, combining entertainment with scientific principles.
“We’re hoping to make this an annual thing,” Sirota said. “These kinds of events show that physics isn’t something to be intimidated by — it’s something you can enjoy.”
