Key Points

• Island View Elementary School's annual Science at Work Night featured a hands-on demonstration by three volunteers from the Marathon Petroleum Anacortes refinery to engage students in STEM.
• The volunteers, including two tech services refining engineers and a process engineering college intern, demonstrated the unique properties of non-Newtonian fluids to show how science can be fun and accessible.
• The event highlighted the importance of curiosity and problem-solving in science, with the Marathon Petroleum team inspiring students to see science in everyday life.

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Island View Elementary School in Anacortes, Washington, buzzed with excitement during its annual Science at Work Night in February. Among the dozens of local professionals showcasing the wonders of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) were three volunteers from the Marathon Petroleum Anacortes refinery. Amanda Cavazos, Lauryn Humphreys and Elise Concepcion staffed a hands-on demonstration table that captivated students with a playful yet educational dive into the world of non-Newtonian fluids, proving that science can be both fun and accessible.

Cavazos and Humphreys, both tech services refining engineers, brought their expertise and enthusiasm to the event. With years of experience optimizing refinery processes, they are skilled at applying scientific principles in large-scale industrial environments. Joining them was Concepcion, a tech services process engineering college intern, whose fresh perspective and energy added a relatable spark for the young attendees.

Their demonstration table featured a hands-on experiment with non-Newtonian fluids – substances that defy the usual rules of liquids and solids. Using a mixture like cornstarch and water (often called oobleck), they invited students to explore its quirky properties. The setup was simple but effective. When placed gently into the fluid, with little resistance toy dinosaurs sank, mimicking how a typical liquid behaves. But when students applied pressure – like by smacking the dinosaur on the surface – the fluid stiffened, and the dinosaurs stayed afloat. The students marveled at this real-world magic, guided by the Marathon Petroleum team’s clear explanations.

“Engineering is all about figuring out how things work and making them better.”

For Cavazos, the night was about showing students that science isn’t just in textbooks. It’s everywhere.

“At the refinery, we use physics and chemistry every day to keep things running smoothly,” she shared with a group of fifth graders. “This fluid is a fun way to see those ideas in action.”

Humphreys echoed that sentiment, emphasizing problem-solving.

“Engineering is all about figuring out how things work and making them better. Tonight, you’re the engineers,” Humphreys told the students.

Her knack for explaining complex concepts at the students’ level kept them engaged and asking questions.

Concepcion, still early in her career journey, related to the young learners.

“I loved science fairs growing up,” she told the students. “Playing with stuff like this got me curious about engineering.”

The Marathon Petroleum table was one of many at the event, where local professionals from marine biologists to software developers joined forces to ignite STEM passion in Anacortes’ youth. For Island View’s budding scientists, it was a night of discovery thanks to the volunteers who showed that curiosity fuels progress.