Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 48th Annual Christmas Lecture!
![](program-booklet-cover-2017.jpg)
View the 12-page Printed Program
Watch the 2017 program online now!
![](xmas-images-2017/1-Posed-guests-sm.jpg) |
2017 Guests: Isabelle Krier, Renee Frontiera, Jim Maynard, Gery Essenmacher, Rodney Schreiner |
![](xmas-images-2017/2-Renee-and-indicator-sm.jpg) |
![](xmas-images-2017/3-Hotbook-sm.jpg) |
![](xmas-images-2017/4-Bucky-demo-sm.jpg) |
Dr. Renee Frontiera (U of Minn.) discusses the Universal Indicator. |
Now that's a hot book! |
Bucky and the ammonia fountain. |
![](xmas-images-2017/5-Rodney-and-Cadmium-sm.jpg) |
![](xmas-images-2017/6-Glowing-cadmium-sm.jpg) |
![](xmas-images-2017/7-CO2-extinguishing-candles-sm.jpg) |
Dr. Rodney Schreiner shows the audience element 48, Cadmium. |
Cadmium Selenide
glows in black light! |
Carbon dioxide gas extinguishes the candle flames. |
![](xmas-images-2017/8-Isabelle-demo-1-sm.jpg) |
![](xmas-images-2017/9-Isabelle-demo-2-sm.jpg) |
![](xmas-images-2017/10-Isabelle-playing-sm.jpg) |
High school junior Isabelle Krier shows off some beautiful,
color-changing liquids. |
Isabelle played the opening segment of Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto 3rd Movement. |
![](xmas-images-2017/11-Santa-gift-sm.jpg) |
![](xmas-images-2017/12-Farewell-sm.jpg) |
![](xmas-images-2017/Scouts-sm.jpg) |
Santa gives Bassam Van Gogh's Sunflowers, which was created using cadmium paints. |
It was another great year! |
These Daisy Girl Scouts from Argyle, led
by Jody Moen, enjoyed the show. |
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![](xmas-images-2017/SIF-bowtie-USE-sm.jpg) |
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Bassam wears one of Santa's gifts: a Science is Fun bowtie! |
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~ 2016 ~
Watch the 2016 Program Online Now!
View the Printed Program
Chemistry Prof Keeps Christmas Cheery for the 47th Time
WPT Blog
![Show Opening](Xmas_2016/Opening-sm.jpg) |
![With Rodney](Xmas_2016/BZS-Rodney-sm.jpg) |
![With Santa](Xmas_2016/BZS-Santa-sm.jpg) |
The crowd is ready for science! |
Bassam and Rodney |
Santa presents Bassam with a silver-plated 47 in honor of the 47th annual Christmas Lecture. |
![Special Guests](Xmas_2016/guests-sm.jpg) |
2016 Special Guests (L to R): Jim Maynard, Rodney Schreiner (Bassam) Indre Viskontas, Gery Essenmacher. |
![The Bromans](Xmas_2016/bromans-sm.jpg) |
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![Thank You](../BZSPresentations/2016xmas-thankyou-sm.jpg) |
"The kids grabbed rubber bands as soon as
they got home, to experience the warmed-
when-stretched phenomenon."
~ Karl Broman, Madison |
At right, a thank you holiday message from one of this year's attendees.
(Click for larger version) |
2015:
![Xmas 2015](xmas2015pano-sm.jpg)
Watch the 2015 Program Online Now!
More from WPT
Behind the Scenes: Set Design with Philip Ashby
A Quick Message from Prof. Shakhashiri
View the 2015 Program Booklet
News Items:
Tickets available Oct.1 for Shakhashiri's science show via UW-Madison News
Chemist starts holiday season with bangs, controlled fires via The Daily Cardinal
Around Town: After 46 years, science show still inspires awe via the Wisconsin State Journal
![Bassoons](Xmas_2015/xmas2015bassoons-sm.jpg) |
![Bucky](Xmas_2015/xmas2015bucky-sm.jpg) |
![Finale](Xmas_2015/xmas2015finale-sm.jpg) |
Bassoonists Ross Duncan
and Juliana Mesa Jaramillo |
Bucky brought his own safety goggles. |
The grand finale! |
![](Xmas_2015/Brianne-Kieta-and-Keanna-Lansing-Waunakee-sm.jpg) |
![](Xmas_2015/xmas2015GusHaddonEastonEmmeSteffen-sm.jpg) |
![](Xmas_2015/xmas2015Coleton-Vandervest-Mount-Horeb-sm.jpg) |
Brianne Kieta and Keanna Lansing of Waunakee |
Gus, Hadden, Easton and Emme Steffen of Wausau |
Coleton Vandervest of Mount Horeb |
![](Xmas_2015/xmas2015GeorgeDietz-sm.jpg) |
![](Xmas_2015/xmas2015musiciansposed-sm.jpg) |
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Rodney and Bassam with
Jeff Stobbe, who was in Bassam's class in 1979 and
has been attending the Christmas Lecture ever since. |
Juliana, Rodney,
Bassam and Ross |
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![Girl Scouts](Xmas_2015/Girl_Scout_ThankYou-sm.jpg) |
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View the 2014 Program Booklet (pdf)
Watch the 2014 Show Online
IMAGES FROM THE 2014 SHOW
![Enjoying Science!](Xmas_2014/kids-sm.jpg) |
"Thank you for a great show!" ~ Taavi, Boden, Ramse, Kayli, Aziah and Avali |
![Welcome](Xmas_2014/welcome-sm.jpg) |
![Bucky](Xmas_2014/bucky-sm.jpg) |
![Fog](Xmas_2014/fog-sm.jpg) |
The UW Varsity Band helped welcome Professor Shakhashiri to the stage. |
Bucky always comes prepared
with his safety goggles. |
Fog is a science fan favorite! |
![Elizabeth](Xmas_2014/elizabeth-sm.jpg) |
![Luminol 45](Xmas_2014/luminol-sm.jpg) |
![Jim Maynard](Xmas_2014/jim-sm.jpg) |
Elizabeth was a special guest in the Christmas Lecture from 1992-2002. |
Celebrating the 45th annual show with a glowing luminol "45." |
Lecture demonstrator Jim Maynard
with Bassam. |
![Mike Leckrone](Xmas_2014/mike-sm.jpg) |
![Santa](Xmas_2014/gifts-sm.jpg) |
![Ornaments](Xmas_2014/ornaments-sm.jpg) |
Professor of Music and Director of Bands Mike Leckrone was another special guest. |
Santa brought gifts to commemorate the 45th anniversary. |
Bassam showed Prof. Leckrone and Santa how to make holiday ornaments. |
![Madison Youth Choir](Xmas_2014/choir-sm.jpg) |
![Raia](Xmas_2014/raia-sm.jpg) |
![Santa Singing](Xmas_2014/singing-sm.jpg) |
The Madison Youth Choir |
Raia demonstrated the Bernoulli Effect with a balloon and hair dryer. |
Santa sang Italian opera! |
![Rodney Schreiner](Xmas_2014/rodney-sm.jpg) |
![Dorothy](Xmas_2014/dorothy-sm.jpg) |
![Clint Sprott](Xmas_2014/clint-sm.jpg) |
Bassam's longtime collaborator Rodney Schreiner had fun with foams. |
With a crash of thunder and a swirling tornado, Dorothy appeared! |
Prof. Clint Sprott, of Wonders of Physics, came to congratulate Bassam. |
![Goodbye Celebration](Xmas_2014/goodbye2-sm.jpg) |
![Andres Family](Xmas_2014/Andres-sm.jpg) |
![Goodbye Celebration](Xmas_2014/goodbye-sm.jpg) |
Everyone came back on stage to celebrate at the end of the show. |
Lillian, Jasmine and Oliver Andres, who attend Pittsville Elementary School, enjoyed the show. |
The show wrapped up with more great music from the UW Varsity Band. |
Photos courtesy of Curt Andres and Dina Boyle |
View the 2013 Program Booklet (pdf)
IMAGES FROM THE 2013 SHOW
![Balloon Flame](Xmas_2013/Xmas2013-BalloonFlame-sm.jpg) |
![Jim Maynard](Xmas_2013/Xmas2013-Jim-sm.jpg) |
![Hot book](Xmas_2013/Xmas2013-BookFlame-sm.jpg) |
Bassam kicks off the show by igniting some balloons, always a crowd pleaser. |
Lecture demonstrator Jim Maynard performs the N2OCS2 demo in the dark. |
"Let me just check the instructions for the next demonstration in this book ..." |
![Briggs-Rauscher Reaction](Xmas_2013/Xmas2013-BriggsRauscher-sm.jpg) |
![Musical Interlude](Xmas_2013/Xmas2013-Music-sm.jpg) |
![Rodney Schreiner](Xmas_2013/Xmas2013-Rodney-sm.jpg) |
The Briggs-Rauscher Reaction features dramatic color changes. |
Prof. Marc Fink and Hinano Ishii visit the lab for a musical interlude. |
Dr. Rodney Schreiner has collaborated on 43 of the 44 Christmas Lectures. |
![Flame Steps](Xmas_2013/Xmas2013-StepsFlame-sm.jpg) |
![Science Fans](Xmas_2013/Xmas2013-Fans-sm.jpg) |
![Science Fans](Xmas_2013/Xmas2013-MononaStudents-sm.jpg) |
How did the flame leap up the stairs? |
Some young science fans greet Bassam after the show. |
Fr. John Silva and students from Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School, Monona |
IMAGES FROM THE 2012 SHOW
![Welcome to the show!](xmas-2012-bzs-sm.jpg) |
![Flame](xmas-2012-flame-sm.jpg) |
![With Lauren](xmas-2012-lauren-sm.jpg) |
Bassam waves hello to the audience at the start of the show. |
Spraying metal salts into a flame produces beautiful colors. |
Lauren Buchanan tests the conductivity of different liquids. |
![With Santa](xmas-2012-blanket-sm.jpg) |
![Silver Mirror](xmas-2012-silver-sm.jpg) |
![The crew](xmas-2012-all.jpg) |
Santa presents Bassam with a periodic table blanket from the ACS. |
What a beautiful Christmas ornament! |
Enjoying a round of applause after the show. |
![40th Logo](../40th-Logo---WEB.jpg)
Past Christmas Lectures are available on DVD!
Click Here for More Information
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