USA Science and Engineering Festival: The Blog

Many moons ago as a chemistry major, one of my first college internships was working in product development for paints and coatings. That summer I discovered the fascinating world of formulation science and was in awe of the chemistry that went into making everything from my shampoo to dishwashing soap. The chemistry and the science of the world around me came alive and I was amazed by the breadth and the scope it touched in my life.

Here is a video of one of the USA Science and Engineering Festival’s Nifty Fifty speakers, Diane Bunce, demonstrating the “Chemistry of Thanksgiving” and making science come alive, like it did for me at that summer internship. So if you have ever wondered how a turkey pop-up timer works, why we eat potatoes and not paper towels, what makes your belly ache after a big meal and how antacids work check out her demonstration in the video.

Thanksgiving and Chemistry: What’s the connection? from ACS Pressroom on Vimeo.

Diane is one of the original authors of the high school chemistry text book, “ChemCom”, and one of the original authors of the ACS curriculum for non-science majors, Chemistry in Context. She has also won the American Chemical Society’s Helen Free Award for Public Outreach.This video was produced by the ACS Office of Public Affairs.


  1. #1 emoticons facebook
    June 23, 2011

    Thanks to Diane Bunce of Nifty Fifty speakers to giving such a brief description to the members of science blog. I like this article and video as the chemistry class a good thinking displayed.