American Chemical Society Webinar: Flash! Bang! Boom!

Despite their fleeting brilliance, fireworks have shaped global celebrations, political spectacle, and scientific innovation for centuries.

Whether you celebrate the 4th of July with fireworks or simply watch from afar, pyrotechnics offer a fascinating window into world history, culture, and the evolution of science and technology itself. Join the Science History Institute’s Jesse Smith for a special presentation on Flash! Bang! Boom!, our exhibition exploring the remarkable history of fireworks. From royal weddings and Olympic ceremonies to military victories, national holidays, and public festivals, discover how fireworks have illuminated humanity’s biggest moments across time and around the globe.

This FREE webinar was a co-production between the Institute and the American Chemical Society (ACS), which is celebrating chemistry’s transformative contributions to science and society this month as part of its ongoing 150th anniversary celebration.

What You Will Learn

• The origins and global history of fireworks, from ancient innovations to modern spectacles
• How science and technology evolve over time and the surprising ways they remain connected to the past
• The challenges and opportunities of communicating the history of science to broad, non-specialist audiences