How We Started

It started with one student’s curiosity. Our Founder, Viraj Luthra, loved chemistry and wanted everyone to experience the excitement of hands-on science. While volunteering in classrooms and hosting small experiments for friends and neighbors, he noticed a gap: many young people, especially in underserved communities, had limited opportunities to experience hands-on science. Determined to change that, he brought together a group of like-minded peers who shared his love for chemistry and belief in the power of learning by doing. Together, they turned a simple idea into a thriving nonprofit, designing programs that bring chemistry to schools, libraries, youth centers, and community events.

What began as a small team of students has grown into a thriving community of volunteers, educators, and supporters, all working to make science accessible, engaging, and empowering for everyone. Through pop-up labs, cooking-based chemistry programs, and chemical safety initiatives, they inspire curiosity, build confidence, and strengthen science literacy across communities.

Our Team

Viraj Luthra: Founder and President

Viraj has been fascinated by the hidden chemistry in everyday life: from wondering why bread rises in elementary school to developing a more economical alternative to hydroxyapatite, a key component of human bones and teeth used in implants and repair. Driven by this curiosity and a desire to bring science beyond the classroom, he founded this nonprofit as a high-school junior. With a few like-minded friends, he began hosting small experiments and informal chemistry demos at schools, libraries, and youth centers.

Under his leadership, those early sparks grew into a full-fledged organization offering pop-up labs, community workshops, school partnerships, and chemical safety initiatives.

Outside of science, Viraj enjoys spending time with friends playing Dungeons & Dragons, hosting cooking challenges in his parents’ kitchen, and teaching Gumdo, Korean sword martial arts, to younger students.

Name: Director of Outreach & Programs

Name: Director of Fundraising

Name: Communications & PR Director

Name: Director of Social Media & Content

Our Mission and Vision

Our mission is to make chemistry accessible, engaging, and relevant for everyone. We believe that science should not be confined to textbooks or laboratories because it belongs in classrooms, kitchens, parks, and everyday life. By delivering hands-on exploration, we spark curiosity and give learners of all ages the confidence to experiment, question, and discover the science that surrounds them.

Through cultural connections, we celebrate diversity and show how chemistry touches every community, from cooking and traditional practices to local environmental challenges. By providing practical safety education, we empower individuals and families to interact with chemicals responsibly, make safer choices, and care for their surroundings.

Together we want to build a world where curiosity thrives, science is accessible to all, and communities are empowered to explore, understand, and apply chemistry in everyday life.