Signature Outreach Programs

We currently host a couple of signature outreach programs—designed to make chemistry engaging, hands-on, and accessible—with more exciting offerings in development! These programs blend creativity with science, giving participants a chance to explore real-world applications of color chemistry through interactive experiences. Each program can be adapted for a range of age groups, from K–12 to college students and beyond. If you’re interested in having us bring one of these programs to your school, museum, community event, or organization, we’d love to hear from you! Please reach out to discuss availability and how we can tailor the experience to fit your audience.

$Children guided by a student through screen printing$

Colorful Chemistry: Color-Changing Wolves

One of the Sustainable Dye Chemistry Laboratory’s signature outreach events, Colorful Chemistry: Color-Changing Wolves, brings the science of color to life through interactive dye-based activities. Participants screen-print wolf designs using synthetic thermochromic pigments that change color with heat. They also explore pH-responsive natural dyes, observing visible color changes as chemical equilibria shift in acidic and basic environments, and quantify the changes using a spectrophotometer. First launched at NC State’s Open House, the program has since been featured at venues such as the Marbles Kids Museum and has engaged hundreds of participants. It was also featured at the State of the Sciences, and our laboratory has donated over 500 wolf patches created through this event, including to organizations like There’s A Way StyronDavis Resource Network, Inc, where the patches were used as sensory tools for children with autism. This event has been successfully adapted for elementary, middle, and high school students, making it a flexible and inclusive program that connects chemistry with community in a fun, accessible way.

$A student pouring a reddish semi-solid into a container in a lab environment$

Colorful Chemistry: Synthesis and Application of C.I. Acid Orange 7

Another signature outreach program from the Sustainable Dye Chemistry Laboratory, Colorful Chemistry: Synthesis and Application of C.I. Acid Orange 7 is a hands-on, lab-based experience in which participants synthesize C.I. Acid Orange 7—an azo dye commonly used in textiles and hair colorants. Students then apply the dye to a range of fibers to investigate dye–fiber affinity, exploring the chemical interactions that influence uptake. The activity concludes with characterization of the synthesized dye using UV-Vis spectroscopy, reinforcing core concepts in dye chemistry, analytical techniques, and structure–property relationships. This program is ideally suited for high school students and has been successfully run during TexTEC and day-long NC State campus visits, offering an immersive experience that highlights real-world applications of chemistry.