I will be posting links to activities and outreach opportunities as part of the East Midlands Branch of the Institute of Physics (IoP) and Outreach Coordinator for Loughborough Physics Department. For undergraduates – this is a good opportunity to get involved in science communication (or to play with some cool toys). Ideas are always welcome!
A variety of outreach activities related to the research in the Department. Includes lithography, imaging, twistronics, and engineering for heat.
IoP I’m a Physicist Brownie/Guide Badge
The East Midlands branch of the IoP launched the ‘I’m a Physicist’ girlguiding badge in Nottinghamshire in January 2019. Over 35,000 badges have since been completed, and a map of groups that have taken part is available here.
East Midlands Branch committee
East Midlands Branch Facebook page
Find BSL interpreted IoP talks here.
Previous Outreach Activities
Science in the Park, Wollaton Hall, March 2023
Tabletop Life through a Lens activities including pinhole camera and Moire kaleidoscope. (Previous years have included Physics busking, light painting, Girlguiding badge activities.)
Athena STEM residential Wind Power Workshop, 2022 -2023
2 hour workshop where students build a mini wind-turbine using a motor, blue tack, and some paper/card.
Athena STEM Online Workshop – renewable energy in farming: solar powered watering system, 2021
Videos outlining components of an offgrid self-built watering system. Included use of Arduino, solar power, water pumps, 3D printing.
Ford Fund Residential Course – Wind Power Workshop, 2018, 2019
1-2 hour workshop, where groups of students were set a challenge:
1) Construct a working Homopolar motor
2) Build a mini wind-turbine using a motor, blue tack, and some paper/card.
STEM Community Day at Loughborough 2014 – 2019
“Each year, Loughborough University hosts a ‘Community Day’ event where Loughborough locals are invited on campus to take part in various ‘science based’ activities.”
As part of this we have had light painting, nitrogen ice cream, painting with ferrofluid, electrodough and superconducting train demos running.
3 Minute Wonder
Come watch as early career researchers try to explain their research in just 3 minutes. With nothing more than a single slide and any props they bring along, there’s usually a cash prize up for grabs
Ongoing: Anyone interested in physics/science outreach can get involved and there are several events throughout the year where you can help out, such as:
– UCAS visits and open days
– Observatory open evenings
– National Science and Engineering Week (including Community Day)
– The Big Bang Fair
– Science workshops
Currently available demos
As part of the Life Through a Lens activities:
- Pinhole camera: Construct your own pinhole camera or have your photo taken with our ‘old fashioned’ pinhole camera.
- Light Painting: Using our dark tent, a camera with long exposure and some light sources get creative to paint images with light.
- Thermal imaging: Explore the world through an infrared lens. Use our thermal camera to identify sources of heat loss, or see through objects (such as balloons).
- Moiré kaleidoscope: Create moiré patterns by rotating 2 patterns with respect to one another.
Electrodough kit
Use electrically conductive playdough (flour+salt+lemon juice+oil+water+food colouring) to create colourful and imaginative circuits. A useful activity to teach basic aspects of electricity (positive and negative terminals to a battery; LEDs; switches; resistance), or just to while away some time.
Superconducting Train Demo
Watch the floating train effortlessly glide around a magnetic track. Coupled with a ferrofluid flask this is a useful demo to help explain:
– The use of liquid nitrogen
– Permanent magnets
– Superconductors
– Magnetic fields and flux pinning
– The difference between ferromagnetism and diamagnetism
– The Maglev concept for high speed train travel
– The use of superconducting magnets at CERN
Ferrofluids
A black *goop* consisting of iron nanoparticles coated in a surfactant and suspended in oil. This enables 3D visualisation of magnetic fields.
The Peltier Powered Cloud Chamber
A diffusion cloud chamber that allows you to see the emission of alpha and beta particles from some weak radioactive sources. Rather than use dry ice to keep the base cold, two Peltier cells coupled together are used to reach temperatures as low as -30 C. This is a useful demo to help explain:
– Radioactivity
– Supersaturation
– Cloud formation
– The difference between alpha and beta particle emission
– The effect of a magnetic field on charged particles
– The Peltier and effect and Peltier cells
The Two Balloons
You have two identical balloons that have been inflated to different sizes and connected by a tube that is currently clamped (i.e. no air flow between them). What happens to the smaller balloon when you unclamp the tube? A great demo to explain:
– Elasticity
– Air pressure
– Hysteresis
iPhone Microscope
Constructed from the lens from a laser pointer and some adjustable perspex slabs… A great way to demonstrate:
– The lens equation
– Microscopy
The Homopolar Motor
Constructed from a battery, magnet and some spare wire (or paperclips), this is a great way to demonstrate:
– The Lorentz Force (left hand rule)
– Where physics ‘ends’ and engineering ‘begins’…
Research Lectures
When a Lab Just Won’t Cut it: Experiments in a Beamline
Time: 13th December 2017, 2-3pm
Place: U0.05, Loughborough University
New Directions in Energy Research or a Magnetic Quirk?
Time: 26th March 2014, 4-5pm
Place: W.003, Loughborough University
Kelly Morrison 