Sciencetellers Educate Kids at Cape May County Library

COURT HOUSE—A cheerful crowd of children enthusiastically applauded as the Scienceteller, Andrew Piccirillo, mesmerized his young audience with vivid and interactive experiments involving dry ice.
On Oct. 16 the children’s section of the Cape May County Library was transformed into a science lab where kids explored highly interactive experiments in an enjoyable and thoroughly engaging manner. Andrew Piccirillo, the vivacious and gregarious host of Sciencetellers, delighted with breathtaking experiments and a high-energy show combining science and storytelling.
Approximately 40 children (ages ranging from 5-15) sat “crisscross like applesauce” on the floor of the library until Piccirillo invited them to participate in his intricate experiments. The children’s faces beamed as Andrew exhibited such scientific concepts as solid and gases through the imaginative use of dry ice. The young volunteers relished their moments with Piccirillo and his engaging show.
Parents were poised to participate yet the focus was on the kids as Piccirillo, one part scientist, one part court jester and one part game show host, flowed from one interactive experiment to another.
A graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in Marketing and Psychology, the Scienceteller always had a love of performing. He was attracted to science in high school, and he also enjoyed theater, mime, and dance.
“First and foremost, we want to make science accessible,” Piccirillo said. “We want kids to say, ‘that’s great!’ We want to make them laugh.” The Scienceteller admitted that he, “emulates performers like Steve Martin,” in order to keep his audience engrossed and attentive. And he confirmed that he loves to “smooch science and storytelling together, to tell an awesome story.”
“Ultimately we try to make connections and create a meaning for kids,” Piccirillo said. “Beyond the educational component, we want people to laugh and have fun.” His innate improvisational skills generate audience participation as well. “We want everyone immersed in storytelling—if you’re in the room, you’re part of the show,” he said.
“Connections are what we’re selling—using science and stories,” he said. “We want the show to be edgy and fun… a successful show is one that makes connections.”
Piccirillo’s ingenuity was manifested when he created the “Ghostbuster’s machine” before his audience and lavished a fog bank of dry ice upon his willing participants. The young audience relished the effect, giggling as they were immersed in the fog. One of Piccirillo’s obvious talents is his ability to create an immediate rapport with children. Dressed in a multicolored quasi-psychedelic shirt reminiscent of the 1960’s hippie movement, Piccirillo’s apparel is as bold and flowing as the show itself. Employing household items such as soap and other ingredients, he exhibits what is possible in the realm of science when creativity and logic are combined. The children learn a variety of concepts about science and the scientific process itself.
The dynamic and engrossing Sciencetellers show keeps its audience highly engaged and fully focused. The concept of using science experiments to tell stories resonates well with the youthful audience. References to pop culture also stimulate the imaginations and insights of both children and adults alike.
When asked how he got the original idea for the dynamic show, Piccirillo related that he once demonstrated a science lesson to a group of students who seemed distracted and observed that they weren’t listening to him. At that moment, he decided to tell a story that might reinvigorate their interest. Before long, the concept of Sciencetellers was born.
For the final act of the show, Piccirillo took a black cauldron, and, filling it with dry ice, created an eerie fog about the room.
To learn more about this unique show, visit www.sciencetellers.com.