A “Marble-ous” Day at the Backwards Science Fair!

On April 11, 2026, members of the Kleiner Lab participated in the Backwards Science Fair at the Marbles Kids Museum.

Representing the lab were Jessie Maier, Ayesha Awan, Namita Deshmukh, and Rayna Garcia, who hosted a table titled “Layered to Perfection! Using Density in Microbiology.”

Visitors were introduced to the fascinating world of microbes and key scientific concepts through a series of interactive activities:

Exploring microbial diversity by observing pond water samples under a microscope
Learning about density with a large, colorful density column made from everyday household liquids
Testing hypotheses by predicting where different “microbes” (bead mixtures of varying densities) would settle in the column
Hands-on experimentation by building their own density columns using lab equipment and colored sugar solutions

These activities demonstrated how scientists use density to separate and study diverse microbial communities, all while making science accessible, interactive, and fun for learners of all ages.

Events like the Backwards Science Fair highlight the importance of community engagement and science communication, and we’re proud to share our passion for microbiology with the broader public!