Schedule a Demonstration

Demonstrations and Materials Requests

To schedule a demonstration or to request materials, please email:

utchemdemos@austin.utexas.edu

Name your demonstration(s) and/or materials. Please review our comprehensive list of demonstrations and inventory. Based off of this list, specify what demo(s) and/or materials you'll need. If you need additional materials for a demonstration that we do not have in stock, please provide at least two weeks advanced notice so we can order them.
Confirm that you've read the written protocol for your demo(s). Important safety information is included in each protocol, and sometimes even advice on conducting the demo. If there's a little something extra that you want for your demo that isn't in the designated protocol, be sure to indicate this difference in your email.
Indicate your delivery method & the date, time, and location of your demo. Please indicate if you will need your materials delivered to you or if you will pick them up yourself, as well as the date, time, and room number in which you'll be performing your demo.
Give us your PPE information. All faculty or staff performing demos should use appropriate PPE based on the materials you'll be working with. Please include your glove size and lab coat size in your email.
FOR DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY FACULTY ONLY: Certain materials requests require you sign a safety acknowledgement for the demonstration. If a Department of Chemistry faculty member wishes to:

a) request materials to conduct their own demonstration outside of the UT Main Campus without a member of

the Demonstrations Team/Demonstrations Coordinator present;

b) request materials to conduct their own demonstration in a location with differing safety considerations than

those previously assessed for the demonstration (for example: outdoors, smaller venue, etc.) and without a

member of the Demonstrations Team/Demonstrations Coordinator present;

c) request materials to conduct their own demonstration for a non-UT related event without a member of

the Demonstrations Team/Demonstrations Coordinator present

they must review and sign a safety acknowledgement confirming that they have reviewed all safety information relating to their requested demonstration(s). This acknowledgement must be returned no less than 72 hours prior to the demonstration/pick-up time.

Please note: All demonstrations requests and/or modification and cancellation requests MUST be received via email. If a verbal conversation has taken place, it MUST be followed up via email for documentation purposes.

Policy

Required Notice

The more advanced notice we have, the better.

Please email to schedule your demonstrations no later than 48 business hours in advance. Any requests received less than 48 hours prior to the date/time of the demonstration can not be guaranteed.
If your demonstration requires materials that are not currently a part of our inventory or is a demonstration not part of our regular demo circulation, please email to schedule your demonstration and request materials no later than two weeks in advance. Any requests received less than two weeks prior to the date/time of the demonstration can not be guaranteed. Please note that two weeks' notice gives us the best chance at receiving items on time, but for newly ordered materials, it will still depend on the vendor and shipping.

Personal Protective Equipment & Safety Practices

Demonstrations are exhilarating and awe-inducing, but only when they're done safely! Please remember to use your personal protective equipment and safe practices.

Each demonstration kit will come with a performer's protocol; this protocol details the chemical and physical hazards of the demonstration, as well as the required personal protective equipment (PPE) necessary to perform the demonstration in compliance with Environmental Health & Safety and the UT Chemistry Demonstrations Laboratory policy. Please use appropriate eye and ear protection, gloves, and a lab coat as advised to keep you and your audience protected from harmful chemicals.
If the advised safety measures are not followed throughout the duration of a demonstration, future requests will require in-depth conversations regarding safe practices with the Demonstrations Coordinator prior to approval and their supervision will be required.

Student/Volunteer Participation

We love student participation – but it has its limits.

One of our greatest priorities is maximizing the capacity for student volunteers to get their hands on the chemistry they're learning, but it's imperative that we regulate this activity for the safety of everyone in the classroom.
Volunteer participation is only permitted for specific demonstrations. Demonstrations that allow a certain degree of student participation will indicate as such on their protocol.
No volunteer may participate in a demonstration not approved for volunteer participation.
No volunteer may participate in a demonstration without wearing all required personal protective equipment (PPE) as written in the demonstration protocol.
The demonstration performer is expected to thoroughly explain the role of the volunteer to them and any/all chemical and physical hazards of their participation.
If the requirements for student/volunteer participation are not followed throughout the duration of a demonstration, future requests will require in-depth conversations regarding safe practices for student/volunteer participation with the Demonstrations Coordinator prior to approval, and their supervision will be required.

Demonstrations Practice & Training

If you are Department of Chemistry faculty performing a demonstration that is new to you, come train with us!

It is strongly advised that all faculty of the Department of Chemistry conducting a demonstration they have not previously performed meet with the Demonstrations Coordinator to discuss procedure, safety considerations, volunteer participation restrictions, and more. If a previous meeting is not scheduled, the Demonstrations Coordinator will require that you meet before the class the demonstration is to be performed in for a 10-minute briefing.

If you are not faculty of the Department of Chemistry, come train with us!

All are welcome to request demonstrations – but for non-chemistry CNS faculty or non-CNS faculty, we require that you schedule a time to meet with our Demonstrations Coordinator to discuss your demonstration and all relevant safety information, as well as complete a safety acknowledgement after this training's completion. Your department or program will be responsible for the costs of your demonstration and a member of the Demonstrations Team must be present throughout the demo.

Ask For Help When You Need It!

Don't hesitate to request help from us.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about a given demonstration that you are requesting, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Demonstrations Coordinator. We are here to answer all of your questions and make you as comfortable and confident performings demos as possible.
As often as is possible, the Demonstrations Coordinator will be present during your demos – but sometimes, demonstrations run concurrently. If you'd like to request that a member of the Demonstrations Team/the Demonstrations Coordinator be present during your demo for any reason, please be sure to include this in your demonstrations request OR request this with no less than 48 hours notice. Any requests of this nature received less than 48 hours prior to the date/time of the demonstration can not be guaranteed.
The Demonstrations Coordinator's contact information can be found on the Contacts Page. During lecture, if you are unable to communicate with the Demonstrations Coordinator, teaching assistants are more than welcome to reach out on your behalf.

More details on the implementation of demonstrations will be sent upon confirmation of your demos request.

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