Rice University’s Tudor Fieldhouse turned into a bustling educational classroom as thousands of energetic students from schools around the greater Houston area learned about mathematics and science while attending Owls’ basketball games.
Sponsored by Rice Athletics, the 11th annual School House Mania games combined education with sports as Rice invited local elementary school students to campus for a day of educational programming and basketball. This year’s event included various educational sessions before the Rice women’s basketball matchup against Texas Southern University Dec. 13 and the men’s game against the University of North Texas at Dallas Dec. 19.
At halftime of both games, the Rice group Fun with Chemistry conducted science experiments on court for the students’ viewing.
Senior Madeline Belknap, student assistant manager of Fun with Chemistry, said School House Mania is always a highlight of her year.
“I’ve been part of Rice Fun with Chemistry for the past four years, and this event felt like the perfect way to wrap up my semester — sharing the fun of science with students in such a unique setting during the women’s basketball game,” Belknap said. “Their energy and excitement were incredible.”
The group demonstrated the Briggs-Rauscher reaction, also known as “the oscillating clock,” Belknap said. Surprised faces and audible gasps filled the arena when the three colorless solutions combined in a large flask suddenly turned yellow then blue then yellow again.
“We are so grateful for our partnership with Rice Athletics and their support of our program, which makes it possible to combine basketball and chemistry in a way that gets everyone curious and excited,” Belknap said. “We hope to inspire young students to see themselves as scientists — and maybe even as future Rice Owls.”
