Thursday, July 03, 2008
Nanotech at the pub
So I took the kids to the Science Outside the Square event on "Nanotech for the terrified" at the Govenor Hindmarsh pub. After being initially excited (I had promised lasers), they were a bit ho-hum about the idea (we had to leave the house after all), but the Cute Master of Darkness came along too so that cheered them a bit. The idea of Science outside the Square is to present interesting and important science topics in a way that can be understood by folks without a science background. Nanotech has been a lot in the news lately and there is as much angst about nanotech as there is about Genetically Modified crops. Not helped by HRH Prince Charles rabbiting on about Grey Goo.
We arrived a little bit early (man I suck at finding parking spots), and the venue was already full (this was the second time the presentation was run, the first was overbooked. they have enough bookings to run it a third time, and probably will. That gives you an idea of the interest out there). We had to squeeze over onto a table with a very oblique view of the stage. This made viewing the powerpoint presentations difficult, but actually mattered very little.
The speakers were engaging and interesting from an adults point of view, but I could see the kids were fading (hey, I promised them lasers!). Then the hands on part started up. First we were handed those peanut starch sticks that are supposed to replace styrofoam, and had to make Bucky Balls of carbon nanotube models out of them (they stick together if you lick them, I am so making molecular models with them). The Cute Master of Darkness made a great nanotube, my Bucky ball ended up as a bucky hat. Middle One produced chicken wire.
Then they did live demonstrations of nanotech products (involves a kids wading pool and spaghetti, I won't spoil it if you want to go to the next one), then they handed out LEDs, batteries and superstrong magnets, and we made LED throwies (the kids LOVED that, despite there being no lasers). The video below shows one such throwie on the table, being controlled by another magnet. That table was an inch thick bit of wood (the weird object is my Bucky hat).
There were quizzes and prizes, and everyone learned something about nanotech. It was a fantastic night and a fantastic event, so if you have a chance, go along to Science outside the square.
We arrived a little bit early (man I suck at finding parking spots), and the venue was already full (this was the second time the presentation was run, the first was overbooked. they have enough bookings to run it a third time, and probably will. That gives you an idea of the interest out there). We had to squeeze over onto a table with a very oblique view of the stage. This made viewing the powerpoint presentations difficult, but actually mattered very little.
The speakers were engaging and interesting from an adults point of view, but I could see the kids were fading (hey, I promised them lasers!). Then the hands on part started up. First we were handed those peanut starch sticks that are supposed to replace styrofoam, and had to make Bucky Balls of carbon nanotube models out of them (they stick together if you lick them, I am so making molecular models with them). The Cute Master of Darkness made a great nanotube, my Bucky ball ended up as a bucky hat. Middle One produced chicken wire.
Then they did live demonstrations of nanotech products (involves a kids wading pool and spaghetti, I won't spoil it if you want to go to the next one), then they handed out LEDs, batteries and superstrong magnets, and we made LED throwies (the kids LOVED that, despite there being no lasers). The video below shows one such throwie on the table, being controlled by another magnet. That table was an inch thick bit of wood (the weird object is my Bucky hat).
There were quizzes and prizes, and everyone learned something about nanotech. It was a fantastic night and a fantastic event, so if you have a chance, go along to Science outside the square.
Labels: science, science matters
# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 6:16 am 
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