Pennsylvania Kids Design Dream Science Experiments in Art Contest

What if your next great idea started with crayons and a dream? A Pennsylvania medical laboratory is betting that the most brilliant scientific breakthroughs might begin in the imagination of a child with a blank piece of paper.

HNL Lab Medicine launched its annual art contest on May 1, inviting students in kindergarten through eighth grade to design their own imaginary experiments. The theme challenges young artists to fill a test tube rack with their most creative scientific discovery, whether that's a cure for the common cold, a whimsical invention, or something no one has dreamed up yet.

The contest runs through May 31, giving students across the region a chance to turn their curiosity into colorful art. Winners will be announced on June 18 and will receive a family membership to either the Da Vinci Science Center or the Franklin Institute.

"Science begins with curiosity, and children are some of the most naturally curious people in the world," said Jessica Bargilione from HNL Lab Medicine. "We can't wait to see what experiments they dream up."

Nine winners will be selected across three grade groups, with awards for the most creative, innovative, and expressive entries. The winning artwork won't just gather dust in a drawer. It will be displayed throughout HNL Lab Medicine's 55 patient service centers across Pennsylvania, inspiring thousands of visitors.

The Ripple Effect

This contest does more than celebrate artistic talent. It plants seeds for future scientists by validating children's natural curiosity at a crucial age. When a third grader sees their imaginary experiment hanging in a real medical facility, they learn that their ideas matter. When an eighth grader designs a cure for a disease they've only read about, they're practicing the kind of creative problem solving that drives actual breakthroughs.

The test tube itself represents possibility. Countless medical advances and everyday innovations started as simple experiments in glass tubes, conducted by people who once imagined something better. By asking children what they would discover, HNL Lab Medicine is reminding them that today's wildest dreams can become tomorrow's reality.

Students can download the entry template at hnl.com/artcontest and submit their work online or by mail. Every colorful sketch is a small bet on a brighter future built by curious minds.