June 16, 2025
St. John’s University hosted a Chemistry Day celebration in May to spark high school students’ interest in the chemical sciences and give them early exposure to college-level research, academic pathways, and careers in chemistry.
Hailing from five local high schools—Eleanor Roosevelt High School, Holy Cross High School, The Mary Louis Academy, Queens High School for the Sciences at York College, and Queens Preparatory Academy—129 freshmen and sophomores made the short trip to St. John’s Queens, NY, campus for a day of engaging, hands-on workshops that offered glimpses into the world of chemistry.
“Chemistry Day was a strategic opportunity that effectively leveraged the unique strengths and opportunities of becoming a part of the St. John’s community,” explained event co-organizer David P. Brown, Ph.D., Professor, Chemistry, St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. “With the emphasis placed on pursuing undergraduate and graduate studies in chemistry, participants were particularly engaged and eager to explore potential career options.”
Directed by Dr. Brown; Philip S. Lukeman, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Assistant Chair, Department of Chemistry; Elise Megehee, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Chemistry; and Joseph M. Serafin, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry; Chemistry Day’s workshops showcased the people, pathways, and potential associated with the field.
Student Panel and Ice Cream Demonstration
Current students and recent graduates discussed their experiences studying chemistry and biochemistry at St. John’s, offering insights into academic pathways and life as a chemistry major. The session, under the direction of Dr. Megehee and Dr. Serafin, ended with an ice cream demonstration that used liquid nitrogen to illustrate real-world chemical applications.
Careers in Chemistry
Dr. Brown led a career-focused panel featuring St. John’s alumni who work in diverse chemistry-related fields, including an environmental health and safety specialist, a chemical engineer/application scientist, a forensic chemist, and a resident physician. Each speaker detailed their professional journey, emphasizing how their chemistry education at St. John’s prepared them for success.
Undergraduate Research in Chemistry
In this session led by Dr. Lukeman, current St. John’s student researchers presented ongoing projects addressing real-world challenges through chemistry.
Three lucky students took home St. John’s sweatshirts; all participants and chaperones were given gift bags upon departure as a token of appreciation.
“We were happy to see so many enthusiastic high school students who wanted to discover the opportunities a chemistry major at St. John’s has in learning science, doing research that helps people, and going on to fulfilling careers,” said Dr. Lukeman. “We look forward to welcoming more students and teachers to campus next year.”