GSW Hosts Eighth Annual Science Day for Area High School Students
Published: 11:41 AM Thursday, October 8, 2026
By: Georgia Southwestern University
More than 130 area high school students visited Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) on October 2, 2026, for GSW’s eighth annual Science Day, exploring various STEM fields through hands-on experiments and interactive demonstrations.
A total of 137 students and 12 teachers from six high schools participated, including Terrell Academy, Sumter County High School, Furlow Charter School, Southland Academy, Webster County High School, and Chattahoochee County High School.
“GSW annual Science Day gives high school students from neighboring counties an opportunity to explore STEM and STEM-related programs at GSW through interactive demonstrations and hands-on learning,” said Dr. Nedialka Iordanova, professor of physical chemistry. “The event also allows GSW faculty and students to showcase their knowledge and skills, serving as a valuable student learning experience and recruitment opportunity for our various STEM programs.”
Students were divided into small groups for a more personalized experience, guided across campus by GSW students. Faculty and students led demonstrations in chemistry, biology, computer science, physics, mathematics, and exercise science. Activities ranged from interacting with snakes and iguanas to exploring chemical reactions.
“It was pretty awesome. All the professors were really nice, and they had really fun experiments,” said Charlie Oosterveen, a junior at Terrell Academy. His favorite demonstration involved a chemistry experiment called “Hand Blaze,” led by Assistant Professor of Chemistry Dr. Beike Jia and the GSW Chemistry Club, in which gas-filled bubbles in soapy water are ignited in students’ hands.
Participating disciplines included chemistry, biology, computer science, physics, mathematics, and exercise science. The event aimed to engage high school students in the sciences and educate them about the opportunities these disciplines offer for their futures.
“Science Day really broadened my knowledge and allowed me to experience multiple labs in person,” said Kynslee Collins, a sophomore from Furlow Charter School. “My favorite part was the liquid nitrogen rocket in the water bottle.”
The day’s grand finale featured liquid nitrogen demonstrations led by Iordanova at the fountain in Centennial Plaza. Students concluded their morning of learning and scientific discovery with lunch in the GSW dining hall.
For returning schools, Science Day has become an eagerly anticipated experience each year.
“It was amazing—our kids loved it,” said Kori Gorton, a science teacher at Webster County High School. “This was our second year [attending], and they want to come back every year. They can’t get enough of the experiments and hands-on learning.”
Learn more about GSW’s Science Day and STEM opportunities at gsw.edu/ScienceDay. More images from the event can be found on GSW’s Facebook.
