Molecules Out & About
Lead Research Organisation:
Keele University
Department Name: Institute Env Physical Sci & App Maths
Abstract
Just imagine; - cycling around beautiful countryside encountering massive molecules models, slowly building up your own Krebs Cycle and starting to understand how your body converts food into the energy you are using to turn the pedals. - walking through a massive Red Blood Green Blood molecular sculpture at the entrance to the Core at the Eden Project and seeing for your own eyes the similarity between the heme and chlorophyll porphyrins. - a child coming along to the Silk Museum in Macclesfield for a history project but also making a model of silk Fibroin and taking home a picture of themselves with it. - a scientist discussing bio-fuels with a farmer who has just made a model of a bio-diesel molecule.- a sixth former helping primary school children to make models of smell molecules from roses to poo. - a group from the WI making models of breast cancer drug molecules and sharing their experiences. Molecules Out & About will put molecular models into places and hands they have never been before and inspire people to reconnect to their molecular world.
| Description | This grant was all about exploring ways of bringing chemistry to the general public and getting them to engage with the subject through molecular models. People could make molecular models, follow trails of molecular models, see huge molecular models within the UK and in Europe. |
| Exploitation Route | This is an exemplar public science project. |
| Sectors | Chemicals,Education,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| URL | http://www.keele.ac.uk/makeitmolecular |
| Description | As part of the project we established molecule trails. These were rolled out across the UK by the Royal Society of Chemistry as part of Chemistry Week 2013. These have been particularly popular in Scotland. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2009 |
| Sector | Education,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Impact Types | Cultural |
| Description | No specific grant scheme |
| Amount | £12,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Royal Society of Chemistry |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2009 |
| End | 10/2009 |
| Description | Makeitmolecular and Megamols in France |
| Organisation | University of Limoges |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Over a number of years I have been in contact with Professor Frédéric Louradour who is a physicist at the University of Limoges and has a great interest in public science activities and is the director the Scientibus which is a science outreach activity within the Limousin region of France. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Professor Louradour organised for us to visit Limoges for French Science Week. |
| Impact | As part of the Molecules Out and About Project we undertook a joint activity in Limoges from French Science Week which received regional TV an press coverage |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | BA festival Birmingham Molecule trail and Make it Molecular activity |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A considerable number of people made a model of a molecule but unfortunately one of our cameras was stolen. A well attended busy event in the centre of Birmingham |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
| URL | http://www.keele.ac.uk/makeitmolecular |
| Description | Bollington Festival |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This was a parade of huge molecular models on the theme of Green Bollington. Bollington has a special place on the UK's scientific map because it is the birthplace of James Chadwick discoverer of the Neutron. It won first prize for the best display in the parade and a selection of molecules were left on display for the duration of the festival. This was the first time Science was included in the Boillington Festival and it is now firmly established in the range of activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |
| URL | http://www.keele.ac.uk/makeitmolecular/ |
| Description | Carbon Rapture |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Carbon Rapture was and exhibition in the courtyard of Burlington House Piccadilly London. This coincided with the Summer Exhibition of the Royal Academy. This was the first time a Scientific exhibition was staged in the Courtyard. During the 6 week residencean estimated 50,000 of members of the public saw the exhibition. This was a nationally significant exhibition and stimulated an appropriate amount of media coverage. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |
| URL | http://www.keele.ac.uk/makeitmolecular/ |
| Description | Carbon rapture at Trentham Gardens |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Carbon Rapture was installed in the Rivers of Grass section at the entrance to Trentham Gardens. It proved very popular with visitors. Although the exhibition was only supposed to stay a few months infact it was there for nearly 4 years. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010,2011,2012,2013,2014 |
| URL | http://www.keele.ac.uk/makeitmolecular/ |
| Description | Cheltenham Science Festival 2014 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Working with the festival organisers we created a trail of large molecular models (Mega Mols) together with information boards around the site of the Cheltenham Science Festival. Visitors were then invited to follow the trails and find out information about the molecules and enter a competition which was divided into an under 13 and over 13 age groups. This was considered a great success by the festival organisers and they received higher than average entries into the trail which previously consisted of information boards alone. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| URL | http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/ |
| Description | Great Yorkshire Show 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A make it molecular stand where people were able to come and make a model of a molecule. About two thirds of participants choose to have a picture of them with their molecule taken and uploaded to our Flickr site. People genuinely enjoy making and learning about molecules. People are so happy that they have the opportunity to do a science activity which would be unlikely to visit them in their rural location. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012,2013,2014,2015 |
| URL | http://www.flickr.com/photos/makeitmolecular |
| Description | Greenman Festival Mega Mols and Make it Molecular |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A classic example of how a hard-core science activity can fit well into a music festival. We were so popular we were allowed to come back for a second year, something that is not normally allowed |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009,2010 |
| URL | http://www.keele.ac.uk/makeitmolecular |
| Description | Jubilee Diamond |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Community groups such as brownies, scouts, cubs, WI, U3A as well as schools and the general public all engaged in making the largest molecular model of Diamond in the world. This resulted in considerable press interest within the local area including radio and newspaper articles. There are now strongly links with the High school and middle schools in Uttoxeter. The local community is keen to participate in science activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| URL | http://www.keele.ac.uk/makeitmolecular/ |
| Description | Molecules out and About Network |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | A network of over 30 schools across the UK was set up. The schools were given equipment and training to undetaker make-it-molecular activities We received numerous contacts from activities undertaken by schools under this scheme, including one from the MP for Stafford Jeremy Lefroy. Activities took place across England, Scotland and Wales. Schools reported that pupils were engaged in demonstrating the activity and that this led to an increase in interest in science. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009,2010,2011,2012 |
| URL | http://www.keele.ac.uk/makeitmolecular |
| Description | Otley Science Festival |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A make it molecular stand and an exhibition of Mega Mols outside the Science festival venue. Pictures can be seen on our Flickr site |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| URL | http://www.flickr.com/photos/makeitmolecular |
| Description | Potteries Museum Science Day Make-it-molecular and Sex, Flies and Smelly Sticky Tape |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Well received by the science festival organisers and audience. The molecule trail was publicised on local radio. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012,2013,2014,2015 |
| URL | http://www.keele.ac.uk/makeitmolecular |
| Description | Science Week Limoges |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This received regional press and TV coverage. It was very well received and considered novel and innovative as an activity in France There are on-going discussions between Keele and France about ways in which to put together a pan European Network of academics who undertake public science activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
| URL | http://www.keele.ac.uk/makeitmolecular/ |