From Slime to Circuit Boards: UAlbany's Summer Bus Tour Kicks Off

A woman in a purple shirt stands in a group of children making slime in a park under a pop-up tent
Slime-making was popular on the first stop of UAlbany's summer bus tour series, June 26 at Collins Park in Scotia. (Photos by Zach Durocher)

By Sophie Coker

ALBANY, N.Y. (July 15, 2026) — Community members of all ages joined the University at Albany at Scotia-Glenville 250th Celebration at Collins Park in Scotia last month for the first stop on the University's summer bus tour series.

From electronics challenges to slime-making and other activities, parkgoers explored, experimented and experienced just some of what UAlbany has to offer.

The bus series initiative, spearheaded by Vice President of Communications and Marketing Melissa Connolly, sends UAlbany representatives including faculty, department and division leaders out on the road to show people in the greater Capital Region more about the area's premier research university and anchor institution, using well-trafficked locations to drive visibility.

"When research is accessible and interactive, people are genuinely interested," Connolly said. "Instead of asking families to visit UAlbany, we are bringing UAlbany to community festivals, neighborhood celebrations and local events across the Capital Region."

 

A woman at a table loaded with parts of circuit boards speaks to a girl at an outdoor event
A visitor checks out the circuit board activity.

Alongside the College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering's dynamic circuit board display and the College of Integrated Health Sciences' CPR practice station, families and community members made their own slime, met Roxy the K9 and posed for pictures with everyone's favorite mascot, Damien the Great Dane. After a spin on the giveaway wheel, participants walked home with UAlbany-branded bubbles, beach balls, sunglasses and other summer spirit-wear.

The bus tour continues through mid-August, offering community members a chance to explore the UAlbany mobile air quality lab, watch 3D-printer demonstrations, view unique research artifacts and more.

Upcoming stops on the tour:

  • Chatham SummerFest (July 18) 

  • Greene County Youth Fair (July 25) 

  • Canajoharie National Night Out (Aug. 4) 

  • Mayfield Bannertown Fair (Aug. 13) 

  • Palace Theater Block Party (Aug. 15)

It's not too late to hop on. Campus partners are invited to showcase their own departments or divisions at as many tour events as they can make. Transportation will be provided, with a bus departing from campus for each event and arriving with time for setup before activities begin. 

Email Luke Rumsey at [email protected] or Sophie Coker at [email protected] for details.