Fall Fun
This fall, NU Chemistry broke out of the lab and built connections to encourage collaboration with three standout events: the annual Oktoberfest celebration, an Undergrad nitrogen ice cream celebration, and the long-anticipated return of the Halloween Demo Show.
Oktoberfest: Chemistry, Community, and Competition
On September 15, faculty and students gathered for an afternoon of food, games, and friendly competition at Oktoberfest—Northwestern Chemistry’s annual back-to-school bash.
🔥 Grilled favorites fueled the crowd.
🧩 Classic games like Jenga kept the fun going.
🏆 The first-ever Chemistry Cornhole Tournament saw 16 teams battle for glory over two intense hours
With such an enthusiastic response, our 2025 NU Chemistry Cornhole tournament plans to expand — so start practicing for this fall!
Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream Social: Frosty Fun with Undergrads
On the first Friday of October, the inaugural Nitrogen Ice Cream Social, hosted by our teaching-line faculty, welcomed all undergraduate chemistry students. This fun-filled event transformed Tech LR3 into a celebration of science and sweets.
🍦 Liquid nitrogen turned simple ingredients into delicious, ultra-chilled ice cream.
💨 Clouds of nitrogen vapor added mystery and excitement to the demonstration.
🎉 Students connected over shared treats and their love of chemistry.
This new tradition kicked off the school year with a visual reminder of the creativity and curiosity at the heart of studying chemistry.
Halloween Demo Show: Science Meets Spectacle
For the first time in five years, the Halloween Demo Show made a triumphant return and was as thrilling as it was educational! Three amazing graduate students Casandra Moisanu (Dichtel), Owen Bailey (Farha), and Isabella Riha (Zhang) brought chemistry to life with dazzling experiments.
💥 Methane bubbles ignited into flames.
🪞 Silver mirrors materialized before the audience’s eyes.
🔬 Exploding pumpkins animated the Halloween festivities.
This high-energy event reminds everyone about the thrill of chemistry experiments and why they were drawn to this discipline in the first place.