Nicholls State University Chemistry Road Show Visits Labadieville Middle School

Pictured are Nicholls State University Professor Dr. Chadwick Young, left, and Labadieville Middle School Science Teacher Joe Gauthreaux.

Seventh and eighth graders at Labadieville Middle School received a special visit from Dr. Chadwick Young, an entertaining astronomer and professor of physics at Nicholls State University, who spent a day with the students demonstrating different types of experiments that displayed chemical reactions, kinetic energy, and the power of liquid nitrogen.

The Nicholls State University Chemistry Road Show is a popular demonstration of science concepts that is designed to educate and entertain. 

“I think that it was a very interesting project, and we should do it again. I also think the project gave me a reason to like chemistry,” said seventh grader Brykell Mumphery.

“My favorite part was the super conductor,” said eighth grader Kaden Fair. “I liked this because it was so cool how it looked like it was floating.”

Seventh grader Elizabeth Murphy also commented, “I liked the experiment with the balloon, when it had a small explosion, and also the nitrogen liquid. I think we should have more things like this.”

Young, who leads the road show, has taught at Nicholls since 2005.  He has led numerous research projects in the areas of star formation, physics education and physics of human performance.  He specializes in the study of the formation of low-mass starts. Labadieville Primary Science Teacher Joe Gauthreaux invited Young to visit with his students and to focus on demonstrations that dealt with the topics they are currently studying.

“Having Dr. Young, a professional astronomer, chemist and physicist, visit LMS was very beneficial for our students, as for many of them, it was their first encounter with a professional from those fields. The experiments allowed students to see science happening in real time and hearing their ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ was an exciting moment for me, because I knew they were authentically engaged in their learning,” said LMS Principal Dr. Corey M. Crochet.

Labadieville Middle School students look on as Nicholls State University Chemistry Professor Dr. Chadwick Young demonstrates a scientific concept utilizing a balloon.  Young hosts the Nicholls State University Chemistry Road Show, which is an entertaining and educational demonstration of experiments for school-aged students.