Physics Demonstrations Hit Bowling Green for Annual Event
Western Kentucky University hosts 32 interactive experiments to increase STEM engagement in the local community.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Physics
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Western Kentucky University recently transformed its Kelly Thompson Hall into a science-themed haunted house for its third annual Nightmare on Physics Avenue event. The outreach initiative provided the local community with free access to 32 hands-on physics demonstrations.
Why it matters
The event aims to reduce negative stigma surrounding physics while demonstrating the practical applications of the discipline within STEM fields. By grounding complex concepts in public engagement, organizers seek to increase interest in physics education.
The event featured 32 distinct physics demonstrations staged across the second floor of Kelly Thompson Hall. These hands-on exhibits utilized high-voltage equipment to illustrate physical principles for visiting members of the public.
The players
Western Kentucky University
A public research university in Bowling Green that maintains active student organizations focused on STEM outreach and physics education.
Women in Physics Club
A student-led organization at Western Kentucky University dedicated to supporting women in the field and conducting science outreach.
Society of Physics Students
A professional association for students interested in physics that organizes academic and public engagement events at the university level.
The details
Students and staff reconfigured the laboratory environment to serve as a haunted house, integrating high-voltage demonstrations to showcase physical phenomena. The Women in Physics Club and the Society of Physics Students facilitated these experiments, which are designed to demystify complex concepts by making them accessible through active observation and engagement.
Timeline
The third annual event occurred on October 28, 2026.
The Tech Race
This initiative follows the ongoing trend of academic institutions formalizing public engagement to combat declining interest in physical sciences. It tracks against established outreach models used by university departments to improve student recruitment and public perception of STEM curricula.
Local residents in Bowling Green gained free access to high-voltage physics demonstrations and interactive laboratory experiments. The event serves as a recurring opportunity for the community to engage directly with physical science concepts in an informal, hands-on environment.
The takeaway
By moving physics demonstrations out of the lecture hall and into a public, immersive setting, the university is testing a model for improving STEM engagement. Residents interested in future iterations can watch for announcements from the Western Kentucky University physics department regarding the 2027 schedule.
What happens next
The Western Kentucky University physics department plans to host a fourth annual event in 2027 featuring a new set of experiments.
Further reading
Learn more about local scientific engagement in our Physics section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wbko.
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