Gainesville families have been coming together for 20 years to instill the joy of science into their children at Molecular Mania.
Through the event, UF’s chemistry department has worked to create a welcoming space where children explore science through touch, movement and discovery.
What began in 2005 with just six experiments and around 15 undergraduate and graduate student volunteers has grown into a massive community celebration. This year’s event featured 29 hands-on stations and roughly 180 volunteers.
The best part, for UF chemistry professor Ashlyn Hale, is seeing children return year after year.
“They were little saplings, and now they’re like trees,” said Hale, who has organized the event for 10 years and now leads its volunteer coordination. “Just seeing them come back is so rewarding.”
Hundreds of attendees packed the event venue, The Oaks Mall, from 11am to 3pm. That included 49-year-old UF alumna Tonia Cameratta, who’s brought her children to Molecular Mania for seven years. As she watched her son explore the new AI-powered molecular modeling table, she said events like this ignited his passion for science early on.
“Instilling the love of science in kids is really important, and this is the most incredible event to do that,” Cameratta said. “It’s actually getting this hands-on experience that makes kids really want to explore it.”
Children were in awe, cheering and laughing at the magic of all the experiments, from dry-ice bubbles to imploding soda cans.
Crowds gathered around the “bleeding iron” demonstration, where a nail dipped into a chemical solution activated the nail to bleed a vivid red. There were also slime tables, magnet experiments, rainbows in bottles and a station where students helped families build model molecules with AI.
Parents said moments like these matter in today’s digital world. Hands-on science gives kids something to explore and question.
Audrey Hertel, a 15-year-old Gainesville resident, hasn’t missed a Molecular Mania since she was a toddler. She described the event as her main motivator to dive deeper into the world of science.
“I’m especially excited to come back once I finish my chemistry course, so I actually understand most of what’s going on,” Audrey said.
Her younger siblings, 9-year-old twins Teddy and Natalie Hertel, proudly shared what they learned. Teddy explained the freezing point of liquid nitrogen, and Natalie said she made the “perfect snow” at one of her favorite experiments.
Molecular Mania has shaped the volunteers behind the event as much as the families who attend.
UF chemistry professor Adam Veige founded the event after recalling the excitement of watching a liquid nitrogen experiment when he was young.
“I thought, well, maybe I could do that, but do it in a public setting where you could attract a lot of people in the hopes of maybe inspiring somebody else,” Veige said.
He estimated more than 15,000 kids and families have attended over the last 20 years.
Many of the student volunteers didn’t always know science was for them, as they lacked scientific exposure. Now, they want to open a door of scientific outreach and communication for others, especially young minds.
Gina Pedro, a UF chemistry graduate student, helps run coordination for the event. She has been striving to break the stereotype that science can't be for everyone.
“You can come from anywhere, be anything, and you can go into science,” she said.
UF chemistry graduate student Amelia Figueroa volunteered the last two years and helped coordinate this year’s event for the first time.
For her, the goal is making chemistry feel connected to everyday life. She loves seeing children and parents discover real excitement and curiosity.
“Those moments when you realize you’ve actually sparked their interest is really just amazing to see,” Figueroa said.
Alabama Weninegar is a contributing writer for The Alligator. Contact her at aweninegar@ufl.edu.
