NANOTECHNOLOGY – WHAT’S ALL THE FUSS AND WHAT’S IT ABOUT?

From stain-proof clothes and self-cleaning windows to nanobots and space-elevators. Find out what’s really happening in Nanotechnology and what the fuss is all about. This session will include:

• Short introduction to nanotechnology
• Introduction into the tools nanotechnologists use
• A live demonstration of the microscopes used to image the nanoworld

FINGER PRINTING AND CRIME SCENES

Discover and investigate how fingerprints aide the police and investigators in arresting those responsible for crimes. Investigate how the scene of the crime yields useful information which must be systematically, scientifically and legally sought and selected. The aim of doing so is to reconstruct what happened (sequence of events, modus operandi and motive of the crime) and to recover evidence which might be the key to the solution of the crime.

THE MAGICAL WORLD OF MATHEMATICS

Welcome to the world of Mathematics! In this activity, you will experience the power of mathematics through a series of ‘magic tricks’ played in front of you. Of course, we shall share with you the mathematical theory behind each ‘magic trick’. Here are some examples:

• Number trick: Believe It or Not?
  Pick up a number from 1 to 99 and keep it secret. I can tell everyone this number.

• Card trick: Believe It or Not?
  Select 5 cards from a deck of 52 cards. Show me 4 of them and I can tell you the fifth one.
• Dice trick: Believe It or Not?
  Number 1 to 24 to a set of 4 dice such that each number appears once. If we each roll one of the dice and the higher number wins, then after you select your die, I can always select another one that will give me a greater chance of winning.

WHAT DO ENGINEERS DO?

If you like science but also like designing and tinkering you might find a career in engineering suits you. Find out how to think as engineers, communicate as engineers and work on engineering activities that include:

• Driving a model Mars Rover robot to solve a remote control problem on Mars
• Creating strong, light and stable structures
• Thinking and visualising in three dimensions
• Searching for radio-frequency use in the area

THE PHYSICS OF MUSIC

The perception of musical sounds can be extremely varied, with acoustical “illusions” probably outnumbering their optical counterparts. Two musicians arguing as to whose instrument is better “in tune” with a prescribed standard is quite a common occurrence – and not always resolved by scientifically analysing the sound produced by the two instruments.

You will investigate the four basics of sound – pitch, duration, loudness and pleasantness of combination – with a variety of different vibration sources, vibrating media and analysis tools. Sounds will be produced, varied, combined and recorded – undoubtedly with varying perceptions of the quality obtained.

CELL and MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

As part of this session you will be investigating two main areas:

• Biochemistry – looking at DNA fingerprinting, gel preparation, electrophoresis and Luminol blood testing.
• Microbiology/Cell Pathology – finding out what is a bioreactor/fermenter, sampling your hands for bacteria, looking at micro-organisms (to work out the good, the bad and the ugly), viewing bacteria, fungi, yeast, parasites under a microscope and investigating Wright’s staining of Blood cells.

THE SECRET LIVES OF FISHES

What can we learn through a little ichthyological (fishy) forensics?? You will get a chance to examine 4 different species of fish from the markets, and for each ask where do they live, what do they eat and other fishy questions.