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���Ϲ�’s College of Sciences is proud to announce the success of the fifth annual Reign in Science Day. This unique S.T.E.M. event brought together students, families, faculty, and community partners for a day of hands-on scientific discoveries and fun. The event was organized by Drs. Emily Hardy, Kyle Lambert, and Trandon Bender, with support from faculty, staff, and students from across the College of Sciences.

Participants from all seven cities of Hampton Roads, as well as some from as far away as Richmond, made the journey to Norfolk on a rainy day as a result of the season’s first Nor’easter looming off the coast. It also marked the first time Reign in Science Day was held indoors, and our volunteers and organizers demonstrated exceptional flexibility and teamwork in adapting to the new format. 

This year’s program welcomed 289 students and 233 parents, for a total of 522 participants, supported by approximately 130 volunteers. Volunteers included graduate and undergraduate students, along with faculty from across the College of Sciences at ���Ϲ�. 

Amongst the ���Ϲ� student volunteers, there were over a dozen Hampton Roads Science Ambassadors. These students take part in a four-week training course at ���Ϲ� to assist them in becoming strong science communicators. "Each student takes their own research and develops a science demo that explains the research they are doing at ���Ϲ�,” said Dr. Bender. “It is really a challenge because they need to be able to describe their research to second graders and grandparents in about three minutes.” All of the volunteers had to be able to come up with creative and engaging demos to fully engage the diverse audience of attendees.

The success of Reign in Science also relies heavily on community partners. “This event is a great opportunity to showcase all the exciting science happening in Hampton Roads,” said Dr. Hardy. “Our volunteers come from all walks of life, and I think it’s so important for students to see that anyone can be a scientist.” 

Community Partners for this year’s event who helped to make this an enriching experience for all who attended included: 

• Back Bay Amateur Astronomers
• Chesapeake Public Libraries
• Christopher Newport University (students and faculty)
• College of William & Mary (students and faculty)
• First Landing State Park
• Hampton Roads Local Section of the American Chemical Society
• Lynnhaven River NOW
• Mariners’ Museum and Park
• Norfolk Botanical Garden
• Norfolk Public Libraries
• Norfolk State University (students and faculty)
• Tidewater Compost
• Virginia Wesleyan University (students and faculty)

“The dedication of our community partners ensured a smooth, engaging, and memorable experience for all attendees,” said Dr. Hardy. Also, Justin Mason, director of Michael and Kimthanh Lê Digital Theater and Planetarium, also participated and showed movies every half hour that delighted both students and families throughout the event.

The organizers received numerous positive messages from parents expressing their appreciation for the event and the opportunity it provided for their children to explore science in an entertaining and interactive environment. Elisabeth Picken, a mom from Virginia Beach, said “My son absolutely loved the experience, and everyone was so kind and enthusiastic to answer his questions and feed his never-ending curiosity. We can’t wait for next year!" 

The volunteers also really enjoyed the experience. “It's an amazing feeling to see students of all ages really get excited about science,” said Sarah Ware, assistant director of science academic support services at ���Ϲ�. “Watching their curiosity flare at the new information they are given and explore science in a new way is a pleasure to witness.” 

The involvement of our ���Ϲ� students as well as local community partners has led to the event receiving national attention from the American Chemical Society. The Hampton Roads local section received a national ACS Chemluminary Award for Best Activity of Program Stimulating Member Involvement, at the ACS 2025 fall national meeting in Washington, D.C. this past August. Dr. Lambert, chair of the Hampton Roads ACS local section and event co-organizer, said: “the event has really grown to over 500 participants annually and is only possible through the dedication and efforts of our volunteers who bring great energy and experience in S.T.E.M. outreach. On the outside looking in, as a leader of a local science organization, this event offers an excellent opportunity to bring together our members and share our involvement in chemistry research and S.T.E.M. outreach with the local community in a fun and enjoyable atmosphere.”

The College of Sciences extends its sincere appreciation to everyone who contributed their time and energy to make Reign in Science Day a success. The co-organizers Drs Hardy, Lambert and Bender express that, “everyone’s commitment to science education and community engagement at ���Ϲ� continues to strengthen our mission to inspire the next generation of scientists.”