Escape the heat for a microscopic journey into the world of ice crystals and snowflakes with a chemical engineering professor who knows the landscape! We’ll begin by dispensing with the old adage, “No two snowflakes are alike,” and delve into the myriad conditions that conspire to create these wonders of nature. Depending on environmental factors, ice crystals can develop into numerous symmetric shapes, many sporting random ornate tree-like flakes. While viewing images of actual ice and snow crystals, we will explore the key steps nature uses to create them and the underlying concepts of tree-like growth patterns that lead to their mesmerizing designs.