Magnet Demos turn Curiosity into Community
University of Houston’s Maggie Fuller demonstrates Lenz’s law with an LED, copper wires, a solenoid, and a magnet during the Science Show and Tell.
Photo courtesy of Diksha Chaurasia.
The Science Show and Tell was a highlight of last year for our SPS chapter at the University of Houston (UH). We held the event at the beginning of the spring semester and invited students to present short, engaging talks or live demonstrations about anything science related—research projects, favorite physics phenomena, or just something that made them say “Wow.” Then, we invited the campus community to attend.
What made this event truly shine was the overwhelming interdisciplinary turnout. Students from across departments—biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, even art—came to experience the buzz, with many drawn in by word of mouth that we had “cool magnet demos.” Thanks to the Texas Center for Superconductivity at UH (TcSUH), we featured hands-on demonstrations that let attendees feel the physics in real time: superconductive levitation using liquid nitrogen and YBCO (yttrium barium copper oxide) disks, Lenz’s law in action with magnetic braking, and Faraday’s law visualized through shifting magnetic fields and coiled copper wires.
This event exemplified our chapter’s mission to create an inclusive, engaging, and community-centered environment where anyone with a love for science—regardless of major—could explore, experiment, and share in the joy of discovery. The energy in the room was electric, and it reminded us why outreach within our own campus is just as important as external engagement.
In addition, our presenters gained valuable experience communicating scientific concepts to a broad audience, and it gave many of them a confidence boost ahead of conference season.
We’re already planning for an even bigger version next year—and yes, the magnets will be back.
