The government has warned us time and again about too few kids going into math and science.

Friday a one local group tried to get kids interested in those fields.

It's called a thermite explosion and it's about igniting kids interest in science.

"I thought it was really cool how it blew up and the fire," said Patrick Judd, a student at St. Mary's in Aiken.

"It was pretty cool," Neil Patel, also a student, echoed.

Chemist Glenn Fugate says that's just what he wanted to hear.

He says these events are very important.

"Demos like this allow us to interact with children, show them science can be fun," he said. "And maybe have a few of the kids go into a scientific field."

While the chemists say it's easy for an explosion to catch kids attention, they say they also want to tell kids about the real life uses of chemistry.

The thermite explosion is used to bond railroad tracks together.

"It also has a military use," Fugate said, "People have used it to crack safes and all sorts of things."

Fugate says chemistry is used everywhere and with an impending scientist shortage he has to be pleased with today's response.

"I like science more now," said Judd.

"I like stuff blowing up," Patel said.