‘How big can we go? How small can we go?’

Published: 1 June 2011

A family-friendly “guided tour of atomic dimensions”: an interactive science and engineering talk hits the road in Glasgow

A postgraduate research student from the University has been awarded a grant to take his science and engineering show that gives audiences “a guided tour of atomic dimensions” on the road.

Jamie Gallagher, a Kelvin Smith scholarship-winning student working between Chemistry and Electrical Engineering, was awarded £4,000 by the Royal Academy of Engineering to develop and tour a light-hearted and interactive exploration of serious scientific and engineering techniques.

The show is a family-friendly presentation that aims to present cutting-edge science in an informative and engaging way. Jamie will take the audience on a tour of the extremes of size in science, asking ‘How big can we go? How small can we go?’ when scientists look at the world around them.Insect 

Jamie and his co-host Helen, who are both material scientists and engineers, will be guides as they shrink the audience down and then blow them up to explain just how scientists can see things that are normally outwith our human understanding. They will use their specialist training and expertise to introduce and explain the latest extraordinary engineering technology to look at objects on extremely large or extremely small scales.

Presenter, Jamie, said: “The shows take us to the hidden worlds that lie all around us. Amazing feats of engineering allow us to expand our horizons and witness stars exploding, and observe single celled life forms. Our show will demonstrate that extreme engineering is the lynchpin behind many of the latest scientific advancements. This will be demonstrated by displaying some of the world leading research carried out at Glasgow.”

The show is designed to appeal to anyone above the age of 7 years of age and will include live demos and some audience participation.

You can follow Jamie on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jamiebgall or at www.twitter.com/domesticscience

The confirmed dates so far are: 

  • Glasgow Science Festival: 5 June, 11.45am, Fraser Building, Seminar Room, Level 4
  • Glasgow Science Festival: 5 June, 2.15pm, Fraser Building, Seminar Room, Level 4
  • Cheltenham Science Festival: 12 June
  • British Science Festival: 11 September
  • Manchester Science Festival: 27 October
  • Unconfirmed: London and Dundee science festivals.

How big can we go? How small can we go? 

First published: 1 June 2011

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