Super Science Night 2026
Thursday, April 30, 6:00 - 8:00 pm

FREE EVENT, but registration is required
(and to preorder tacos)
All food order proceeds will go to the Class of 2027

A Welcome from Andreas Gille

Welcome to Marengo Super Science Night 2026. We are looking forward to an engaging evening of hands-on science, engineering, and discovery for Marengo students and families.

This event brings together the Marengo community alongside partners from Occidental College, California Institute of Technology, Carnegie Observatories, the South Pasadena Amateur Radio Club, and the Los Angeles Astronomical Society, along with many parent volunteers and local STEM professionals.

Across classrooms, the auditorium, and outdoor telescope stations, students will have the opportunity to explore topics ranging from artificial intelligence and space exploration to human biology, engineering, and environmental science.

Please explore the sessions, register when registration opens, and check back as additional activities are added.

CLASSROOM SESSIONS

Come learn the basics of artificial intelligence (AI) and how computers learn!

Through hands-on activities, students will act as “AI trainers” by teaching a computer to recognize animals and colors. They will also explore generative AI and see what their newly trained machine can create. By the end, students understand that better data helps AI learn and improve.

Prior to being a proud parent of two (and soon to be three) Marengo Lions, Matthew Endo was a chemist for 10 years across multiple academic institutions from the University of Illinois to Caltech. Currently, Matthew is a data scientist helping the City of San Diego operate more efficiently and make smarter, data-driven decisions.

The Mystery of Skin: Our Body’s Biggest Cover Up!

It’s the largest organ in your body, and you look at it every single day … but how much do you really know about your skin?! We’re going to dive deep into mystery boxes to uncover the hidden structure and super‑powers of our skin. How many layers does it have? What is it made of? Why is it so important? So many questions—and we’re going to explore them all together as we reveal the secrets of your skin at Super Science Night…

Brigette Gille is a Medical Communications Consultant with more than 15 years of experience in medical affairs and scientific roles within the pharmaceutical industry. She began her career as a PhD student investigating the mechanisms of transdermal drug delivery, and later worked as a research scientist developing strategies to enhance drug absorption through the skin to achieve therapeutically effective concentrations in the bloodstream.

What's going on in our head? The structure and function of our brains!

Learn about the beautiful anatomy of the brain and how vast networks of brain cells work together to give rise to our five senses! There will also be an opportunity for a few students to take home a 3D printed brain!

Aleksandar Marinkovic is an undergraduate student at Caltech. He is a neuroscience researcher studying the brains of humans and animals from behavior to the single neuron level with techniques such as MRI and calcium imaging. He became passionate about neuroscience in high school when he learned about how brain-computer interfaces can transform the lives of people with speech and motor disabilities.

Where Color Comes From: The Making of Pigments

Have you ever wondered where colors truly come from? In this hands-on workshop, you will discover the art of creating watercolors from plants, minerals, and even insects! We will explore ancient techniques from the Americas that have been passed down through generations. Come prepared to grind, mull, and mix your own paints using raw natural pigments.

Monica Leon is a South Pasadena resident, parent, and teacher. In addition to teaching Spanish, I am deeply passionate about art. After attending a pigment workshop led by artist Sandy Rodriguez, I became fascinated by the process of creating natural colors. I have since collaborated with fellow educators to lead workshops on this craft, and I am thrilled to bring this unique experience to Marengo Science Night!

From Shadows to Shapes: Reconstructing Objects from 2-dimensional Projections.

Can you guess a 3D object just from its shadows? In this interactive demo, students will test their intuition, explore how shapes look from different angles, and uncover how combining simple 2D clues can reveal a hidden 3D mystery.

Cory Acreman is a 2nd year graduate student at Caltech focusing on imaging cellular features at near-atomic resolution. I grew up in Houston, Texas and attended UT Austin for an undergraduate degree in Biochemistry. In my free time I enjoy cooking, music, and lots of video games!

Rain, Rain! Where Does the Water Go?

Where does rainwater go after it falls from the sky? Join us as we explore California’s water system and how engineers manage stormwater to prevent flooding and provide the water we drink. We’ll take a closer look at the urban water cycle, how groundwater and surface water resources are managed, and current trends in climate and water supplies. Plus, we’ll get hands-on with a working watershed model to see how water moves through the environment!

Jack Husted is a Civil Engineer with Los Angeles County Public Works, where he designs and manages projects to improve water infrastructure. His work focuses on protecting communities from floods, optimizing water resources, protecting the environment, and preparing for emergencies. As a proud Marengo parent, he loves sharing his passion for science and engineering at Science Night!

How the Internet Works!

Have you ever wondered how a video reaches your screen so quickly? In this fun talk, we’ll explore how the internet works like a giant invisible highway connecting computers around the world. You’ll learn how information travels in tiny “packets,” crosses oceans through undersea cables, and helps send messages, pictures, and games. With simple examples and cool visuals, you’ll see that the internet is not magic, but an amazing system built by people.

Charlie Helfinstine has worked with communication technologies and the Internet for over 25 years as a developer, marketer, and planner. His kids say he has a terrible sense of humor, and they made him promise not to embarrass them in any way.

Robot Explorers: From Rocky Worlds to Giant Planets! 🚀
Travel across our solar system—from rocky planets like Earth and Mars to giant worlds like Jupiter and Saturn. Discover how robotic spacecraft fly, orbit, and land on planets to help us learn what they’re really like!

Jennifer Liao is a Caltech graduate student studying Planetary Sciences.

Clean The Air We Breathe!

During the Eaton Canyon Fire of January 2025, we were inundated with wildfire smoke here in South Pasadena. This yucky, poisonous air was unsafe for us to breathe, and another wildfire may happen...but don't fret! You can build something called a Corsi-Rosenthal Box, which is a wonder at cleaning the air in your home or office! Learn all about indoor air purification, for everything from allergies and viruses to wildfire smoke, and how you can apply it in your own life!

Anna McCool is a writer, local pizza kit maker, and mother to Vivian McCool (5th). She became passionate about clean indoor air during 2021, when learning about long-term practical solutions for the Covid pandemic.

Dr. Kristin Rose is a marketer with a background in cancer biology, genetics, and translational medicine. She's mom to Harrison (3rd) and Karys Motes (5th), and knows that clean indoor air is where "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

IN THE AUDITORIUM

Will It Fall? The Science of Motion and Movie Magic

Discover how science makes things move! Through fun demos, a Jenga challenge, and behind-the-scenes movie magic, students will explore gravity, motion, and how computers use physics to create amazing animations and effects.

Mark Newport has a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and a Master’s degree in Computer Animation, and have worked in the film industry for over 20 years. My experience spans both live-action and animated films, including projects like Harry Potter, Shrek, How to Train Your Dragon, and The Bad Guys. I currently work in the Effects Department at DreamWorks Animation, helping bring dynamic elements like fire, water, and destruction to life on screen.

Radio Communication

Did you know radios can do more than help people talk to each other? Come see a live demo of APRS, a system that uses radios and computers to track moving objects. You can also explore OpenHamClock to see radio activity happening around the world in real time. Try spelling your name in Morse code or with the NATO phonetic alphabet, use handheld radios, and learn how radio waves travel through the air.

Li’l Sparky, our club mascot

The South Pasadena Amateur Radio Club serves our community through communication and education. The club meets monthly to explore all aspects of the amateur radio service with an emphasis on emergency preparedness. We build equipment and improve our operating skills so we can volunteer at local events. Club members enjoy radio contests and challenges like Summits on the Air (SOTA). Visit southpasradio.org to learn more.

Electrochemistry: Making Bonds with Batteries

We will be showcasing the power of electricity as a tool for chemical synthesis. The modern world uses organic molecules everywhere, but we often don't think about how we make them! Using electricity to drive chemical reactions provides a uniquely sustainable approach to forming bonds that are essential in agrochemicals, functional materials, and pharmaceuticals. We will show some overviews of these processes and demonstrate a unique reaction driven by electricity.

Nathan Friede is a graduate student of chemistry at the California Institute of Technology studying synthetic organic electrochemistry in the research group of Professor Sarah Reisman. His research involves the development of new chemical reactions that are driven by electricity.

Applying aerodynamics to cars

What happens when air rushes over a car? In this activity, kids will use a mini wind tunnel to test model cars and see how shape affects drag and downforce. They can measure the forces, plot the results on a whiteboard, and use simple math and graphs to compare which cars are fastest and most stable.

Will Tan is Chief Engineer at Moog Aircraft. He uses math models and computer simulations to help ensure aircraft designs perform as intended. He leads a team that takes early design concepts, optimizes them for performance, and verifies with high confidence that they will meet requirements before physical testing begins. Products developed by his team are used on aircraft including the 787, A350, F-18, F-35, and many others.

Build Your Own Circuit! — Hands-On Demo Station

Ever wonder how lights turn on? Stop by this interactive station to build your very own working circuit! Using batteries, LED lights, and connectors, you'll get to see electricity in action — and take home what you make. Learn about the basic building blocks of electronics, including circuits, resistors, and more. No experience needed — just curiosity!

Jiahan and Ryan are Marengo parents. Jiahan is a software developer for Los Angeles County, helping residents receive county services securely. Ryan works at Discord as a privacy engineering manager where he helps make sure everyone's personal information stays safe.

D.I.Y. Parachutes

Get ready to launch into physics with our fun D.I.Y. Parachute experiment! Kids will design and test their own parachutes while discovering how forces like gravity and air resistance work together in real-world circumstances. By changing the size and shape, you can observe how these factors affect the speed that the parachute falls. It’s a hands-on, exciting way to explore physics in action and have kids bring home their own parachute!

Mikayla Fojas is an undergraduate at Occidental College majoring in Cell and Molecular Biology. She enjoys teaching science through the Boundless Brilliance club, conducting microbial pathogenesis research, and learning dance routines. In her free time, she enjoys singing, baking, and playing basketball.

Zahra Noorani is an undergraduate at Occidental College majoring in Psychology with a minor in Chemistry on the pre-med track. She enjoys presenting with Boundless Brilliance, conducting biochemistry and psychology research, and volunteering at a local hospital. In her free time, she enjoys baking and cooking.

Chemistry in Motion - Clock It

Ever wondered how fast water turns to ice or how fast ice turns to water? This dynamical process can be described through mathematical kinetics, but what if we could visually see this chemistry happening in motion? The iodine clock experiment is one way chemists visualize kinetics of chemical processes in real time.

David Delgadillo is a postdoctoral scholar at the California Institute of Technology studying structural chemistry. My work aims to harness the chemical architecture that nature assembles and utilize it as a source of inspiration for novel therapeutics.

IN THE OUTDOORS

WebbCam Infrared Selfie Station: See yourself like the James Webb Space Telescope sees the Universe

Join astronomers from the Carnegie Science Observatories to learn about NASA's new infrared eyes on the Universe, the James Webb Space Telescope, through an interactive activity where you can take a selfie using an infrared camera. While you're here, ask any questions you have about space!

Dr. Gwen Rudie is a research scientist at the Carnegie Science Observatories in Pasadena and mother to a Marengo Kindergartener. She studies how galaxies form in the distant universe using the world's largest telescopes in space and on the ground.

The Skies Above the Stars: Seeing the Heavens in LA

Despite all the light pollution in Los Angeles, there are still plenty of cool astronomy things to look at through a telescope. You can even see some of these wonderful objects during the day or at sunset! Familiar objects in the sky such as the Sun and the Moon suddenly pop out anew with detail. Bright dots in the sky that you may think are stars reveal their true nature as planets! With our telescopes we will uncover their secrets hidden in plain sight.

We will bring special solar telescopes for the first part of the event for you to view the Sun! (Do not ever look at the Sun through a telescope without the appropriate solar filters inside of or securely placed in front of the telescope!). Later we will finish the event with nighttime telescopes looking at the Moon, Venus, and Jupiter.

The Los Angeles Astronomical Society (LAAS) is a nonprofit volunteer astronomy group. Our goal is to give the public first-hand, close-up experience with astronomical objects specifically and astronomy generally. Some of our activities include public outreach (such as this one!), telescope making, stargazing in and outside the city, and raising awareness about light pollution. We are celebrating our 100th anniversary this year.

Learn more at www.laas.org.