Alfred University

10/08/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/08/2025 14:26

Alfred University hosts annual Night of Science and Arts

Alfred University News

October 8, 2025

Alfred University hosts annual Night of Science and Arts

Marcella Peccorini '25, a PhD student in glass science engineering at Alfred University, makes some cotton candy to serve to attendees of the university's Night of Science and Arts. Cotton candy replicates what glass fiber looks like when bundled together as a fiberglass.

Alfred University hosted the third annual Night of Science and Arts on Thursday, Oct. 2. Approximately 500 families from the region-including the Corning, Wellsville, Bath, Hornell, and Geneseo areas-spent the evening on campus, taking part in a variety of fun events and demonstrations focused on science, engineering, and the arts.

The Night of Science and Arts is a free event hosted by students and faculty from Alfred University's science, engineering, and arts programs. It is sponsored by the Alfred University and its chapter of the Society of Women Engineers.

Rebecca Welch, assistant professor of glass science engineering and an organizer for the event, said about 85 Alfred University students and a dozen faculty volunteered to staff the event. Volunteers represented several academic programs, including engineering, chemistry, math, environmental studies, psychology, performing arts, and art and design.

"We had many alumni attend the event with their families with one of them stating that this was the first time back on the Alfred campus since graduating (with an engineering degree) in 2001," Welch commented.

Alfred University students Ana Richard (front) and Laura Bishop (rear), members of the university's Guzheng Ensemble, assist children in trying out the guzheng, a traditional Chinese stringed instrument, during the Night of Science and Arts.

Attendees visited the McMahon Engineering Building and Harder Hall Lobby to take in their choices of more than 50 live demonstrations. The demonstrations-focusing on areas ranging from physics and chemistry to mechanical, glass, and ceramic engineering-included exploding thermite reactions, liquid nitrogen ice cream, elephant toothpaste, and flaming gummy bears. There were also interactive demonstrations from Alfred University's School of Art & Design + Performing Arts Division.

Visitors created sugar glass and fiber, watched fire dance to music and gummy bears catch on fire, learned about explosions, and ate cotton candy and liquid nitrogen ice cream. The making of cotton candy demonstrated what glass fiber looks like when bundled together as a fiberglass.

A student volunteer paints the face of a child attending Alfred University's Night of Science and Arts.

A buffet dinner was served at Ade Dining Hall at a discounted family rate; kids 12 years and under ate for free.

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Alfred University published this content on October 08, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 08, 2025 at 20:26 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]