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Open House

Sunday, March 1, 2026, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Colorado State University, Lory Student Center

Free and open to the public! Science fun for all ages!

What Is Open House?

Each year, thousands of people gather at the Lory Student Center for a day of exciting, hands-on science at the Little Shop of Physics Open House!

This free, public event welcomes curious minds of all ages—from pre-K to gray! Explore over 300 interactive, homemade science experiments, plus engaging presentations and activities from our Science Partner Groups at CSU, across Colorado, and beyond!

Guides

We’re excited to welcome you to our Open House! While we’ll have printed guides available during the event, we also encourage you to check out our electronic version for easy access and convenience.

Outside of Guide

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Outside of guide including many details from the website such as presentation schedule, link to donate, and acknowledgment of our sponsor; tri-fold brochure with a picture of a girl making a big bubble

Inside of Guide

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Inside of guide featuring a map of all of the locations for Open House including the Lory Student Center 2nd and 3rd floors, and areas immediately east and west of the building

LSOP Hands-on Science

The heart of the LSOP Open House is our hands-on science experiment stations and activities. This year, we’re excited to feature over 300 interactive projects, including brand-new experiments as well as some returning favorites.

Explore a wide variety of science topics across our themed spaces:

  • Ballroom A: Force, Motion, & Waves
    Discover the science of movement and vibrations. Does it move or wiggle? If so, find it here!
  • Ballroom B: Electricity & Magnetism
    Dive into electrifying experiments, including rainbow visions, ring shooters, and static electricity projects. Explore the wonders of electricity and magnetism, and discover how you can be the battery in these hands-on activities!
  • Ballroom C: Illusions
    Experience the fascinating world of visual and sensory illusions (including the Giant Chair Illusion!) with our partners from CSU’s Psychology Department.
  • Ballroom D: Light & Sound
    Explore the science of light and sound. Does the shape of your ear affect your hearing? What happens when you mix different colors of light.
  • Never No Summer Ballroom: The Dark Room
    Step into the dark and discover the magic of holograms, lasers, and glow in the dark!
  • The West Lawn:
    Get hands-on with rockets and bubbles in this fun outdoor space!
  • Room 312 APS Condensed Matter:
    Investigate the wonders of condensed matter with exciting new experiments developed in collaboration with Dr. Maximenko’s Physics Lab.
  • Room 322: McCausland Science Explorations with Wellington 8th Grade
    This room features engaging, hands-on experiments created through a collaborative effort between the Little Shop of Physics and Mrs. Holman’s 8th-grade students from Wellington Middle/High School. A special thank you to the Matthew A. McCausland Foundation for generously sponsoring this space and supporting innovative science education!
  • Sensory Friendly Investigations:
    We are committed to making the LSOP Open House accessible and welcoming for everyone. If you have sensory needs or anticipate any barriers related to a disability, please let us know how we can assist. Contact Cherie Bornhorst at cherie.bornhorst@colostate.edu in advance or visit our Welcome Table at the event to request accommodations.

Presentations

Interactive presentations will be held in the Lory Student Center Lory Student Center Theatre (except for the finale). Come join the fun!

  • 10:00 a.m. Science Demos with a Norwegian Accent by Magne Hognestad, Jærmuseet Science Circus
  • 11:30 a.m. The Million Volt Tesla Coil by Kenn Lonnquist, Colorado State University
  • 1:00 p.m. The Physics of Music by Ansel Foxley, University of Northern Colorado
  • 2:30 p.m. 15 Demos in 30 Minutes by Wendy Adams, Union Colony Preparatory School
  • 4:00 p.m. Grand Finale: Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream by the CSU Chemistry Club (outside in the Sutherland Gardens, weather permitting)
    • Milk products donated by Morning Fresh Dairy

Science Partners

We are thrilled to be joined by science partners from across CSU and beyond! These passionate individuals bring their own unique approaches to sharing STEM, making science accessible and exciting for all.

Adventures in the Atmosphere — Room 390 

Explore the fascinating world of atmospheric science with hands-on activities and demonstrations led by experts from CSU’s Department of Atmospheric Science and partners.

  • Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network (CoCoRaHS): Join CoCoRaHS, a nationwide network of volunteers who measure precipitation, in an exciting hands-on activity! Recently awarded new funding from NASA, CoCoRaHS is studying hail like never before. Explore how satellites measure hail from above while volunteers measure hail on the ground. Test various marble sizes in a drop chamber to see how they impact the hail pads used for measurement. Don’t miss the life-size, 3D-printed models of the largest hailstones ever recorded in Colorado! Learn more at https://www.cocorahs.org/
  • Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA): Discover how scientists at CIRA, one of the nation’s leading atmospheric science research institutes, study the Earth from space! Learn about cutting-edge satellite imaging and how it helps us understand our planet’s atmosphere and climate. Learn more at www.cira.colostate.edu
  • FORTCAST (FORT Collins Atmospheric ScientisTs): Learn how the atmosphere works with FORTCAST, CSU’s student chapter of the American Meteorological Society. Graduate students from the Department of Atmospheric Science will lead interactive demonstrations on weather science, atmospheric chemistry, and climate science. Learn more at http://fortcast.atmos.colostate.edu/
  • Ice Nucleation—Atmospheric Chemistry: Discover the science behind particle counting, supercooled clouds, and climate research. Activities may include demonstrations of supercooled water, aerosol instrumentation, cloud-in-a-bottle experiments, and albedo climate demos.

Cool Science — Room 384

Discover the fascinating science behind levitation! Participants will use wands and static electricity to make small balloons, hoops, and “feathers” float in the air. Additionally, explore the incredible world of superconductivity with a mag-lev train demonstration. Whether in a large space or a smaller setup, this hands-on activity promises fun and learning for all ages!

Discovery Den: Science Partners — Room 304/306

Explore exciting scientific discoveries and hands-on activities with our partners in science!

  • CSU Entomology Club and Bug Zoo: Get up close with live insects, pinned specimens, and resin displays! Student entomologists will be on hand to share fascinating facts and answer all your questions about the incredible world of bugs.
  • Explore Underground Particle Physics — Sanford Underground Research Facility Education and Outreach: Dive deep into the mysteries of the universe with Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF), America’s Underground Lab. Learn about world-leading experiments conducted deep underground to uncover answers to the most profound scientific questions.
    Learn more: sanfordlab.org 
  • Making Sense of Metric — US Metric Association: Discover the importance of transitioning to the metric system in the U.S. through informative displays and hands-on activities.
  • The Lego Forest Lab — The Ecological Climatology and Global Change Lab, Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability: Explore the impact of forest canopy structure on environmental conditions like temperature and humidity in this interactive activity hosted by the Ecological Climatology and Global Change Lab, Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Participants build model forests with Lego bricks, equipped with sensors connected to a Raspberry Pi, which display real-time temperature and humidity data. Experiment with “sun” (heat lamp), “wind” (fan), and “damp soil” (wet sponges) to observe how different conditions affect the forest environment.

Innovation Alley: Partners in Science — Room 308/310

Explore exciting scientific discoveries and hands-on activities with our partners in science!

  • Basic Vacuum Demonstrations — ASTRL: What happens in the absence of air? Explore fascinating demonstrations that showcase the science behind vacuums and the effects of air pressure!
  • Muscles Alive! — Explore the fascinating world of human neuromuscular physiology through hands-on activities! Discover how muscles generate electricity, experience proprioceptive illusions, and learn how your body communicates and moves. Presented by Brian Tracy and Madeline Cump from CSU.
  • Wind Energy Generation — Pinwheels, Girl Scouts of Colorado: Create your own colorful spinning pinwheel! This hands-on craft encourages creativity, fine motor skills, and playful experimentation. Decorate, cut, and fold paper into a pinwheel shape, attach it to a straw, and watch it spin in the breeze!

Ghostbusters STEM! — Room 386

The Ghostbusters of Colorado United use their fandom to build community and lift spirits via public appearance and charity work along the Front Range. Explore the science behind the fiction through a variety of hands-on activities and live demonstrations that include capturing a free-floating vaporous apparition and making slime dance.

Health in Physics — Room 396

CSU Health Physics Society: Radiological health has a long tradition at CSU, focusing on the biological effects of radiation, including laboratory studies of radiation damage and its clinical applications in diagnostic imaging and cancer therapy. At the CSU Health Physics Society Student Chapter booth, you’ll experience hands-on demonstrations to learn about radiation and its fascinating properties. Witness a cloud chamber demonstration, offering a visual representation of natural background radiation and radioactive particles. Test your sleuthing skills by using a Geiger counter to find common radioactive household items or challenge yourself in Radioactive Battleship, a fun and educational game. Stop by to explore the science of radiation in an interactive and engaging way!

Human Anatomy Interactive Room—University Ballroom

CSU’s BMS Human Anatomy Outreach Program engages kids in science and health through hands-on, interactive anatomy experiences. Participants explore the human body using virtual reality anatomy models, real isolated human organs, and engaging stations focused on the senses, digestive system, and nervous system. Designed to spark curiosity and build a big-picture understanding of how our bodies work, this immersive outreach experience brings anatomy to life for learners of all ages. Learn more about the program at CSU’s Anatomy Outreach website. More at https://vetmedbiosci.colostate.edu/outreach/

Illusions—Ballroom C 

  • CSU Psychology Department: As a contemporary science and applied profession, psychology represents a rational and systematic attempt to understand human behavior by studying the processes of development, perception, learning, motivation and thinking, and the relationship of these processes both to the physiological and social functioning of humans. More at https://psychology.colostate.edu/
  • Little Shop of Physics: Check out our giant chair, cafe wall, and other fun illusions!

Lakota Star Knowledge Star Dome — Longs Peak Room 302

Little Shop of Physics partners with Pine Ridge Reservation to bring hands-on science experiences to Indigenous communities, fostering curiosity and making STEM accessible through culturally relevant engagement. We are honored to be joined by members of the Oglala Lakota Nation to share their knowledge of the sky. This will be presented by Generations Indigenous Ways and Oglala Lakota College Math and Science Department.

Outdoor Adventures — LSC Plaza

Explore exciting outdoor science activities and demonstrations hosted by CSU and partner organizations (weather permitting).

  • Solar Observing — Madison-Macdonald Observatory (MMO) and CSU Astronomy Club: Safely observe sunspots and solar flares through specialized equipment. Astronomy at CSU: https://www.physics.colostate.edu/about/astronomy/ and the CSU Astronomy Club: https://ramlink.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/csuastronomyclub.
  • Ram Racing — FSAE Ram Racing Team: Explore the world of race car engineering! Check out the Formula SAE internal combustion and electric cars built by CSU students. Kids can sit in the cars, learn about each subteam’s contributions, and even enjoy a ride in the cars (pushed by the team, if conditions allow).
  • Aggies Off-Road Racing & Development: Learn what it takes to race off-road! Aggies We will several interactive demonstrations to showcase what it takes to build a race car and race off-road. Kids can also sit in our competition vehicle, and build their own mini race car to take home.
  • Energy Institute — CSU Energy Institute Mobile Classroom: Dive into clean energy science and engineering with interactive demonstrations from CSU’s Energy Institute Mobile Classroom.
  • NSF NCAR & UCAR Weather that Spins: Learn about severe weather through interactive demonstrations from the U.S. NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research.
  • Sci On the Fly Mobile Outreach Learning Lab:Experience high-end gaming computers running advanced team-based programs that teach youth across Colorado about the deep connections between humans, animals, and the environment. More at https://vetmedbiosci.colostate.edu/outreach/

Outdoor Explorations — West Lawn and Sutherland Gardens

  • Global Alliance of Community Science Workshops: Hands-on science activities and exhibits designed to inspire curiosity and creativity.
  • Trebuchet Demo — Society of Physics Students (SPS) and We Belong in Physics (WIP): The Society of Physics Students (SPS) is an inclusive club at CSU that fosters a supportive physics community through academic engagement and fun, meaningful activities. We Belong in Physics (WiP) is an undergraduate group dedicated to encouraging and supporting women in physics while welcoming anyone who advocates for women in the sciences. Together, SPS and WiP will present an exciting trebuchet demonstration at Open House! Learn more about SPS: https://www.physics.colostate.edu/undergraduate-students/student-groups/society-of-physics-students/ and more about WiP: https://www.physics.colostate.edu/undergraduate-students/student-groups/women-in-physics/

The Physics of Flight—Room 376-378

A hands on adventure to inspire a new generation of pilots!

Walter Scott Jr., College of Engineering Exploration — Room 372/374

The Walter Scott Jr. College of Engineering will host a variety of exciting, hands-on activities showcasing innovations in Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, Environmental, and Biomedical Engineering. Stop by to explore cutting-edge technology and fun experiments, including:

  • Adaptive Robotics Lab: Get up close and personal with robotic systems like robotic arms, tensegrity robots, robotic snakes, and robotic hands. Visitors can interact with and control the robots to see engineering in action! More at https://www.engr.colostate.edu/laboratories/adaptive-robotics-laboratory/
  • 3D Printed Skeletons — Biomedical Engineering Society – BMES: Assemble 3D printed skeleton pieces to learn about human anatomy, and take home your very own skeleton model!
  • ECE FUNdamentals — ECE Outreach: Dive into the world of Electrical and Computer Engineering through interactive activities. Explore demonstrations featuring sensors, machine learning, signal processing and more to learn how these technologies are shaping the future.
  • Rocket Science Station — Rocketry and Mining Systems RAMS USLI Team: Follow a rocket’s journey from countdown to touchdown! Learn how rockets fly, how their payloads work, and how avionics guide their missions. Hands-on mini-demos make rocket science easy and fun to understand.
  • Chocolate Holograms — School of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering: Discover the science behind chocolate holograms! Learn how properly tempered chocolate can pick up patterns from a diffraction sheet, creating stunning holograms on the surface of the chocolate as it cools. More at https://www.engr.colostate.edu/outreach

Food Court

Doing science can make folks hungry. If you need a lunch break, head on down to the Lory Student Center food court. The following restaurants will be open:

 

Additionally, Cam’s Lobby Shop Convenience Store will be open at the North End Transit Center on the first floor (9:30 am – 4:30pm).

Transportation

Colorado State University, Lory Student Center
1101 Center Ave Mall, Fort Collins, CO 80521

Open House will be in the CSU Lory Student Center, on the 3rd floor. The closest big parking areas are in the Engineering Parking Lot or the Morgan Library Parking Lot, but there are two larger parking structures—the South College Garage and Lake Street Garage—that are also walking distance. Most parking is free on weekends, but please check signage. Visit https://pts.colostate.edu/for more information on parking at CSU.

Public transportation is also a great option: CSU is served by several bus routes, including the MAX.

Most parking on campus is available free of charge on the weekends, but please check the signage in the lots to confirm. There are several large lots including the Engineering lot, Moby lot, South College Garage, and the Lake Street Garage. For more information, visit the Parking and Transportation Services Website.

Major funding for the Little Shop of Physics is provided by the Colorado State University College of Natural Sciences. Funding for Open House is provided by the Matthew A. McCausland Memorial Fund as well as Dr. Jim Sites and Dr. Elaine Regelson.

Stuff From Previous Years

Open House is an annual tradition; check out all of the fun we’ve had in the past!