5th Annual Faraday Lecture Lights Up Community

Honoring a tradition that was started in the 1820s at the Royal Institution, two Pacific chemistry professors dressed as 19th century chemists will carry out experiments that explode, change colors and delight an audience of all ages.

The Fifth Annual Faraday Lecture will take place Sunday, December 21, at 6:00 pm in the Alex G. Spanos Center. The event is free and open to the public, but admission is limited. Tickets are available at the Pacific Box Office.

The tradition comes from the Royal Institution of Great Britain's Christmas Lecture. The Royal Institution has offered a science lecture to children in the London community every year since 1825, with the exception of the years during World War II when the series was suspended. The lecture series was founded by Michael Faraday, considered one of the great scientists of modern history.

During Pacific's event, the chemistry professors Balint Sztaray and Liang Xue will make liquids change colors, set things on fire and blow stuff up simply by mixing liquids together, then explain how they did it all. A special appearance by PowerCat is also expected to add to the festivities. 

The Faraday Lecture has become a beloved tradition in the Stockton community. In 2011, Professor Sztaray sat down with Comcast Newsmakers to discuss the genesis of the Faraday Lecture, and the value of combining exciting experiments with educational experiences.

Comcast Newsmakers - Balint Sztaray from Pacific Marketing on Vimeo