BMB Club Visits East Lansing’s Donley Elementary School for Science Night

Release Date: Oct 18, 2023

BMB Club members, front row, left to right: Gudmunda Gisladottir, Caroline Huang, Paige Franklin, and Letizia Fornara; back row, left to right are Colin Finnegan, Narissa Niarhos, Meghan Mcgill, and Troy Sievertsen. The students were also joined during Science Night by their advisor, Sean Weise.

On October 5th, 2023 the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Club traveled to East Lansing’s Donley elementary school to participate in their Science Night.

The BMB students led children from kindergarten to fifth grade through experiments exploring pH in common household liquids such as soap, lemon juice, and soda. Elementary school students participants were excited to see the beautiful color change in cabbage juice when mixed with these household items.

Meanwhile, the budding botanists in the group learned that a molecule called anthocyanin in cabbage leaves is responsible for this color change. Anthocyanin is often a reddish purple color and acts as plant sunscreen. This molecule can change shape in response to pH and refract different colors of light.

For more photos from Science Night, scroll below:

Latest News

November 20, 2024Uncovering plant resistance through aphids saliva

November 20, 2024MSU researchers leverage cryo-EM for decades-in-the-making breakthrough

October 31, 2024Fishing for biochemistry’s ‘dark matter’

Rachel Passage speaks with Gun Lake councilwoman, Phyllis Davis.

September 12, 2024Summer science program ‘builds bridges’ between MSU, Native American students