Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies
University of Wisconsin–Madison

Sparking the Next Generation of Scientists

Through hands-on activities, Michael Notaro empowers K-12 students to explore climate science.

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Students watch on as Michael Notaro explains the science behind controlling the weather — in a bottle, of course. Photo by Erin Berry
Students watch on as Michael Notaro explains the science behind controlling the weather — in a bottle, of course. Photo by Erin Berry

Michael Notaro, director of the Nelson Institute’s Center for Climatic Research (CCR), is passionate about more than just cutting-edge climate science research — he’s deeply committed to educating and inspiring the next generation of scientists. Through interactive presentations, hands-on activities, and field trips, Notaro makes it a priority to introduce the wonders and possibilities of a career in science to students in the K–12 system.

Michael Notaro demonstrates the “cloud in a bottle” experiment. Photo by Erin Berry
Michael Notaro demonstrates the “cloud in a bottle” experiment. Photo by Erin Berry

On April 25, Notaro worked with 150 students from three area schools to engage directly with scientific concepts through interactive experiments as part of UW–Madison’s cross-campus science field trips that coincided with Earth Fest, hosted by the Nelson Institute and the Office of Sustainability. The experiments broke down the science behind clouds, lightning, and severe storms — making science both accessible and exciting.

The first experiment introduced students to the fundamentals of cloud formation and atmospheric processes by demonstrating a “cloud in a bottle” experiment. Using a bike pump, a soda bottle, cork, and rubbing alcohol, students watched as changes in pressure and temperature created a visible cloud, helping them grasp how invisible water vapor condenses into clouds. The lesson then transitioned to severe weather, where Notaro explained how thunderstorms and lightning form by highlighting the roles of charged particles like protons and electrons. He also gave students a hands-on opportunity to generate static electricity using a Styrofoam plate, a pie tin, a pencil, a thumbtack, a piece of wool cloth, and a neon spectrum tube.

Students attempt to make their own lightning using a Styrofoam plate, a pie tin, a pencil, a thumbtack, a piece of wool cloth, and a neon spectrum tube. Photos by Erin Berry
Students attempt to make their own lightning using a Styrofoam plate, a pie tin, a pencil, a thumbtack, a piece of wool cloth, and a neon spectrum tube. Photos by Erin Berry

For Notaro, the impact of these experiences goes far beyond the experiments themselves. Many of the students had limited prior exposure to hands-on science or field trips, and the chance to directly engage with these concepts made the material come alive. “[The students] seemed to really enjoy it,” Notaro said. “They were passionate about the science and getting to actually experience it instead of just reading about it in a textbook.”

This approach is part of a broader mission he embraces: to diversify science education. Notaro works actively with underrepresented and neurodiverse students, aiming to create welcoming opportunities in climate and geosciences for all backgrounds and abilities. His outreach efforts include collaborations with NASA’s Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) program and autism STEM camps, focusing particularly on middle and high school students. “I want to make the physical sciences welcoming to all students, no matter their racial, ethnic, neurotype, or gender diversity,” Notaro explained. “Whatever their background is, they should all feel welcomed and valued.”

Cloud in a Bottle Experiment:
This experiment shows how clouds form when warm, moist air cools and condenses around tiny particles. By adding a small amount of rubbing alcohol to a sealed bottle, then changing the pressure inside, a visible cloud can form just like in the atmosphere.

  1. Add a small amount of rubbing alcohol to a clean, clear plastic bottle and swirl to coat the inside walls.
  2. Seal the bottle tightly with a rubber stopper or cork.
  3. Stick a bike pump needle into the stopper or cork and pump the bottle up to 20 psi.
  4. Quickly remove the bike pump needle.
  5. A loud pop will sound, and the molecules inside will expand very quickly due to the sudden temperature change. Congratulations! You have made a cloud in a bottle.

Make Lightning Experiment:
This experiment lets you create a tiny spark using static electricity, mimicking how lightning forms in nature. By building up an electric charge using a Styrofoam plate and wool fabric, you can control “lightning” with just a tap of your finger. 

  1. Push a thumbtack through the center of an aluminum pie pan from the bottom side.
  2. Insert the eraser end of a pencil into the thumbtack to create a handle.
  3. Place a Styrofoam plate upside down on a table and rub it with a piece of wool fabric for about two minutes.
  4. Use the pencil handle to lift the aluminum pie pan and place it on top of the upside-down Styrofoam plate.
  5. Turn the lights off and touch the aluminum pan with your finger. That small shock is electricity!