LSOP Open House
The 31st Annual Little Shop of Physics Open House took place on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the Lory Student Center at Colorado State University. This year’s event brought together an incredible 7,000 participants for a full day of hands-on science, discovery, and interactive presentations. The Open House showcased LSOPs 300+ hands-on experiments and activities and was made possible through the collaboration of 35 science partners, who helped engage learners of all ages in an exciting, accessible exploration of science.
The Open House embodies LSOP’s mission to make science engaging and inclusive for all, ensuring that every participant—whether a child, student, educator, or curious lifelong learner—feels empowered to explore scientific concepts through fun, interactive experiences.
Interactive Presentations
This year’s lineup of live science presentations took place in the Lory Student Center Theatre, featuring exciting demonstrations from science educators:
The Million Volt Tesla Coil | Kenn Lonnquist, Colorado State University
Electricity came to life with this electrifying demonstration of a million-volt Tesla coil. Sparks, plasma arcs, and the power of electromagnetism left the audience in awe!
The Physics of Music | Ansel Foxley, University of Northern Colorado
Physics instructor and local musician Ansel Foxley explored the connection between physics and sound, as this presentation dives into the science behind musical instruments, sound waves, resonance, and harmony.
15 Demos in 30 Minutes | Wendy Adams
A fast-paced, high-energy showcase of some of the most exciting and surprising physics demonstrations. Get ready to see science in action—quickly!
Grand Finale: Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream | CSU Chemistry Club
At the end of the day, folks got to experience science you can taste as the CSU Chemistry Club demonstrated the wonders of extreme cold by making ice cream with liquid nitrogen. Special thanks to Morning Fresh Dairy for donating the milk!
Science Partners
The Open House was made even more exciting through collaborations with an incredible lineup of science partners from across CSU and beyond. These passionate individuals and organizations shared unique STEM experiences, making science accessible, hands-on, and engaging.
Some highlights from this year’s science partners:
- Adaptive Robotics Lab, CSU Department of Mechanical Engineering – Explore small, adaptive robots designed for diverse environments.
- Aggies Off-Road Racing and Development, CSU – Interactive 3D models of combustion engines and suspension, plus a showcase of their competition buggy.
- Atmospheric Chemistry/Ice Nucleation, CSU – Discover how particles influence supercooled clouds and climate research.
- BROADN (Aerobiome Research), CSU – Use microscopes to explore the microbiome of the air and its impact on health.
- Biomedical Engineering Society, CSU – Try a foot-controlled racing simulator and a life-sized operation game.
- Bug Zoo, CSU – Get up close with live arthropods and learn about their ecological importance.
- CSU Amateur Radio Club – Experience live radio communications with stations around the world.
- Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) – Experiment with a hail impact chamber and learn about hail measurement.
- Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA), CSU – Discover how scientists study the Earth from space using satellite data.
- CSU Energy Institute – Learn about real-world energy solutions and sustainable innovations.
- FORTCAST (FORT Collins Atmospheric ScientisTs), CSU – Engage with hands-on demonstrations about weather, chemistry, and climate.
- Health Physics Society, CSU – Observe radiation tracks in a cloud chamber.
- Human Anatomy Interactive Room, CSU – Use Virtual Reality anatomy models and explore real human organs.
- Ghostbusters of Colorado United – Experiment with science-based ghost hunting tools and make slime dance!
- Gregory Allicar Museum of Art, CSU – Discover the intersection of science and art with interactive exhibits.
- Illusions and Psychological Processes, CSU – Explore the science of perception, cognition, and illusions.
- Lakota Star Knowledge Star Dome – Engage with Oglala Lakota Nation scholars to learn about Indigenous astronomy and traditional star knowledge.
- Madison-Macdonald Observatory (MMO), CSU – Participate in solar viewing (weather permitting).
- MIRA-SparCQS (Quantum Science Outreach) – Hands-on activities exploring quantum science and the future of the quantum internet.
- Multicultural Undergraduate Research Art and Leadership Symposium (MURALS), CSU – See projects from first-year scholars who designed interactive science activities.
- Muscles Alive! CSU – Witness neuroscience in action as participants see and hear their own brain’s commands to muscles.
- Neurobotany – Explore how plants generate electrical signals in response to their environment.
- Radical Open Science Syndicate, CSU – Learn about water quality monitoring and make your own algae watercolor.
- Ram Racing, CSU – See CSU’s Formula SAE race car up close and meet the student engineers behind it.
- Ram Launch Initiative (RLI) Rocket Team, CSU – Build and launch straw rockets while learning about aerospace engineering.
These are just a few of the many amazing partners who helped make the Open House a huge success!
Celebrating Science For All
The Little Shop of Physics Open House continues to be one of the largest and most unique science outreach events in the region. With thousands of attendees, hundreds of hands-on activities, and an incredible lineup of partners, the event once again fulfilled its mission of bringing science to everyone, everywhere, in a fun and approachable way.
Thank you to all who joined us, and we look forward to seeing you next year for another unforgettable celebration of science!
