Holiday Lecture Series
2022 Holiday Lecture Series
The Harvard SEAS (School of Engineering and Applied Sciences) and the MRSEC (Materials Research Science and Engineering Center) are hosting a free annual Holiday Science Lecture for Families on Sunday, December 4, 2022.
There will be 2 showings: 10-11am and 1-2pm. The in-person lectures will take place in our new Science & Engineering Complex at 150 Western Avenue in Allston, MA. For more information and registration, we look forward to the event with you.
The topic of this year's lecture is: "Engine Earth: The Science of Our Climate System." Join us at the 2022 Holiday Science Lecture for families as we explore the science behind the climate of our home, planet Earth. We will use experiments and interactive demonstrations to understand how the sun, atmosphere, oceans, land, and human activity affect the operation of "engine earth." Come and be a scientist with us as we learn how measurements and models can help us understand our climate and how it is changing!
This in-person presentation is designed for ages 7 and older, and includes interactive demonstrations, lots of fun facts, and a free t-shirt for children attending the lecture. The lecture is free, but space is limited. Reserve tickets now for guaranteed seating. If you have any questions, please email us.
Happy Holidays,
Kathryn Hollar, PhD
Director of Community Engagement and Diversity Outreach
Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Pierce Hall 185
29 Oxford Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
About the Holiday Lecture Series
Since December 2002, the Holiday Lecture Series at Harvard SEAS has held holiday lectures targeted toward children and families. Modeled on a famous set of presentations first given to children a century ago as part of the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures in London, the lectures highlight science in an engaging and fun forum geared for children aged 7 and up. The events are free and open to the public, and teaches science to the community through experiments, audience participation, and highlights from current research.
Prior Lectures:
Title: Go With the Flow: A Festival About Fluids
Flyer: Holiday Lecture 2021
Date: Saturday, December 11, 2021 @ 1pm EST
Description: Join us for a virtual celebration of fluids! Fluids are a part of our everyday lives - you can think about the water that flows from a faucet, the syrup you pour on pancakes, the winds and rains that are part of big storms. You can think about the air that flows out of the hole in a flat tire or the hot candle wax you pour in a mold. We'll investigate some of these common fluids that are all around us, and then we will go into the lab and check out some not-so-everyday fluids that might behave strangely. The presentation is designed for children ages 7 and up and their families, but all are welcome to join and learn something new!
Title: Materials Wonderland: A Celebration of How Materials Science Makes Our Holidays Fun
Article: Holiday Lecture 2020 and Engaging Families in Materials Science: Holiday Science Virtual Lecture for Families
Flyer: Holiday Lecture 2020
Date: Saturday, December 12, 2020 @ 1pm EST | Remote
Description: Join us for a virtual celebration of materials, and their importance in our lives. We will investigate the wonders of common materials, and delve into the science of some materials that make our holidays special. Get ready to learn some interesting science about materials you use every day; we will then go into the lab and check out some not-so-everyday materials. The presentation is designed for children ages 7 and up and their families, but all are welcome to join and learn something new!
Title: The Science of Ice Cream: It's Legen-Dairy!
Articles: Holiday Lecture 2019 and Getting the scoop on ice cream
Flyer: Holiday Lecture 2019
Date: Saturday, December 7, 2019 @ 10am or 1pm EST | Harvard University Science Center, 1 Oxford Street, Lecture Hall B
Description: What gives ice cream its creamy texture? How does adding salt to ice help in the making of ice cream? What happens when ice cream melts then re-freezes? Join us at the 2019 Harvard Holiday Science Lecture as we observe, taste, and explore the science of ice cream. Kids, families, students, teachers and the curious are welcome! You will discover the physics, chemistry and biology of how ice cream is made, and what makes it such a yummy treat. Using live experiments and interactive demonstrations with children from the audience, we will investigate the wonders of ice cream. Come and be a scientist with us!
Title: The Science of Pizza: It's A Little Cheesy!
Article: A knead to learn
Flyer: Holiday Lecture 2018
Date: Saturday, December 9, 2018 @ 11am or 2pm EST | Harvard University Science Center, 1 Oxford Street, Lecture Hall B
Description: Why does pizza crust have holes? How does cheese form from milk? How do you break down food into the fuel your body needs? What makes pizza dough stretchy? Join us at the 2018 Harvard Holiday Science Lecture as we observe, touch, taste, and explore some of your favorite foods. Kids, families, students, teachers and the curious are welcome! You will discover the physics, chemistry and biology of cheese and bread, look at them under a microscope, make a simple cheese (yum!), and learn about digestion (yuck!). Using live experiments and interactive demonstrations with children from the audience, we will investigate the wonders of pizza. Come and be a scientist with us!
Title: Hold Your Temper: Celebrating the Science of Chocolate
Article: Learning is sweet
Flyer: Holiday Lecture 2017
Date: Saturday, December 10, 2017 @ 11am or 2pm EST | Harvard University Science Center, 1 Oxford Street, Lecture Hall B
Description: Where does chocolate come from? Why does some chocolate melt in your mouth but not in your hand? What makes a chocolate bar smooth and creamy? Join us at the 2017 Holiday Science Lecture as we explore the science behind the chocolate we all love. We will use experiments, taste tests, and interactive demonstrations to investigate what makes the perfect chocolate bar. Together we will understand basic chocolate science: how to get chocolate from cocoa beans; how chocolate melts and can be formed into a solid bar that stays together; and what makes chocolate taste gritty or smooth. Come and be a scientist with us as we observe, touch, and taste one of your favorite foods: chocolate!
Title: The Science in a Bubble: Illuminating Interfaces
Article: Bubbles, soap films, and surface tension highlighted in annual holiday science lecture
Flyer: Holiday Lecture 2016
Date: Saturday, December 18, 2016 @ 11am or 2pm EST | Harvard University Science Center, 1 Oxford Street, Lecture Hall B
Description: How can some bugs walk on water? What can we learn about a soap bubble? How can we make oil and water mix? In this interactive presentation led by Professor Howard Stone of Princeton University, we will learn about the science of surfaces and interfaces. We will examine the boundary between liquid and air or between two liquids. This “surface” is so common that we take it for granted but we will see it introduces us to many fascinating ideas in science. Children will help demonstrate the interaction of different kinds of molecules at these boundaries
Title: A Grain of Salt: Isn't It Ionic?
Article: A dash of chemistry
Flyer: Holiday Lecture 2015
Date: Saturday, December 5, 2015 @ 10am or 1pm EST | Harvard University Science Center, 1 Oxford Street, Lecture Hall B
Description: How does salt dissolve in water? What is a precipitate? Why is salt essential for health? Table salt, or sodium chloride, is important to human history - and human health - in many ways. In this interactive presentation led by Professor Howard Stone of Princeton University, we will learn about the many properties of salt that make it so universally useful. Children will help demonstrate the chemistry of salt, from solubility to conductivity. Audience participation is a big part of this interactive show, and every child receives a free t-shirt.
Title: DNA: A Detective Story
Article: Discovering 'detectives' of science
Flyer: Holiday Lecture 2014
Date: Saturday, December 6, 2014 @ 10am or 1pm EST | Harvard University Science Center, 1 Oxford Street, Lecture Hall B
Description: What is the code of life? How does DNA work? How did scientists figure out the structure of DNA? Your genetic code is what makes you unique! Explore the science, beauty and elegance of DNA. In this interactive presentation led by Professor Howard Stone of Princeton University, we will learn how scientists cracked the universal code and structure of DNA. Kids will help demonstrate the chemistry of DNA, and how DNA copies itself.
Title: Faster than the blink of an eye!
Article: Science and delight, in the blink of an eye
Flyer: Holiday Lecture 2013
Date: Saturday, December 7, 2013 @ 10am or 1pm EST | Harvard University Science Center, 1 Oxford Street, Lecture Hall B
Description: How fast is the blink of an eye? How can we "see" sound? What can fast cameras reveal about the world around us? Seeing is believing—or is it? Every day we observe the world around us, but a lot of objects move either too slow or too fast for us to understand what is happening with just our eyes. Scientists and engineers have invented many tools that help us either slow down or speed up the action so that we can make more accurate observations. In this interactive presentation led by Professor Howard Stone of Princeton University, we will learn about some different techniques for capturing images, and apply them to understanding how sounds are made, how things break, and the secret life of small organisms. Audience participation is a big part of this interactive show, and every kid gets a science related t-shirt!
Title: Let there be light: A celebration of color
Article: Celebrating color with rainbows, flames, and an electrified pickle
Flyer: Holiday Lecture 2014
Date: Saturday, December 8, 2012 @ 10-11am or 1-2pm EST | Harvard University Science Center, 1 Oxford Street, Lecture Hall B
Description: What makes the colors of a rainbow? Why is the sky blue? Why are soap bubbles so colorful? How long does it take for light to travel from the sun to the earth? Lights and color make the holidays bright! In this lecture featuring Professor Howard Stone, we’ll explore the science of light and color and its importance in our lives and in nature. Audience participation is a big part of this interactive show, and every child gets a t-shirt!
Title: Powerful Potential: The Gift of Energy
Article: Powerful potential - SEAS holiday lecture engages young learners with the wonders of energy
Date: Saturday, December 10, 2011 @ 10-11am or 1-2pm EST | Harvard University Science Center, 1 Oxford Street, Lecture Hall B
Title: Science of Chocolate
Article: Sweet success at annual holiday lecture
Date: Saturday, December 6, 2008 @ 10am or 1pm EST | Harvard University Science Center, 1 Oxford Street, Lecture Hall B
