Giants of the Infinitesimal
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: Sch of Physics & Astronomy
Abstract
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| Description | As part of the "Giants of the Infinitesimal" project, eight researchers from Nottingham - two of the Co-Is on the grant (Moriarty and Jones), two postdocs, and four PhD students, and three researchers from Sheffield (Cadby, also a co-I, and two PhD students) organised and ran a series of interactive demonstrations as part of Manchester Science week. Approximately 500 people, including many family groups, visited the "Meet the scientists" event. The level of enthusiasm amongst younger children for the demonstrations (including ferrofluids, photochromic beads and solutions which change colour on exposure to UV light, and a variety of liquid nitrogen experiments) was particularly noteworthy (and gratifying!). Beneficiaries: General public Contribution Method: Directly informed development of demonstrations. "Giants of the Infinitesimal" (EP.G063273.1) is a Partnerships for Public Engagement grant and, thus, its primary outcomes are associated with public engagement. The Giants exhibition, developed via funding from EP.GT063273.1, is described in detail at www.giantsofhteinfinitesimal.com and has been installed at the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) since Oct. 2011. The exhibition's success at MOSI led directly to it being embedded within the Magna Science Adventure Centre in Sheffield (from May 2012). Note that *all* members of the Giants team contributed to the development of the exhibition, but that the construction of the exhibits was carried out by Theo Kaccoufa and Tom Grimsey. My role was as a participant/co-organiser. The Giants exhibition enables fun and interactive insights into the non-intuitive physics of the very small. It both enthuses and educates school-children, family groups, and members of the general public with varying levels of scientific knowledge/background. Beneficiaries: Wider public Contribution Method: The development of the exhibits was informed by the research of the scientists involved with the "Giants..." exhibition. [Note that the 'date first materialised' given below is the date the exhibition opened. Whether this correlates directly with the date of the first 'materialisation' of impact is a moot point.] |
| First Year Of Impact | 2012 |
| Sector | Education,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal |
| Description | Giants of the Infinitesimal |
| 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 | See http://giantsoftheinfinitesimal.com/ |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010,2011,2012,2013 |