Nanosciences Live in Science Centres and Museums a New Approach
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Nanosciences Live in Science Centres and Museums A New Approach ‘Out of the ivory tower and into the public arena’ the opportunity to enquire into the individual - this could be the unofficial motto of theN ano motives of the young researchers. Thus, this TO TOUCH project. With an ever increasing de- concept, now being exported throughout pendency on technology contrasting with a Europe in the Nano TO TOUCH project, takes more and more sceptical, even critical public science communication a step beyond conven- view of modern research, scientists face the tional approaches, initiating and encouraging challenge of re-integrating themselves into a Public Understanding of Research. society. For this reason we implemented a radical new approach to science communi- cation in the Deutsches Museum. In 2006, students from my nano-research group at Munich University were first relocated from their dark, inaccessible basement laborato- ries and brought into the bright public space of Wolfgang M. Heckl the museum. In this so-called ‘Open Research Director-General of the Deutsches Museum, Oskar-von-Miller-Chair for Science Communication Laboratory’, young researchers conduct their at the TUM School of Education work live in the midst of the exhibitions whilst answering questions and engaging the visi- tors in discussion. Not only does this give an insight into the making of science, it also gives Cover photo : A protein model in the exhibition at Deutsches Museum’s Centre for New Technologies. Introduction N ano To TouCh open Nano Labs Training, Dissemination, Ecsite www.ecsite.eu Nanosciences Live An Open Nano Lab is a fully functional nano- Evaluation in Science Centres research laboratory situated in the public The National Museum of Science and Technology Ecsite is the European network of science cen- and Museums space of a science museum, where research- Leonardo da Vinci of Milan is in charge of train- tres and museums, linking science communi- www.nanototouch.eu ers from the local university partner spend a ing researchers and museum educators from cation professionals in 400 institutions in 50 few months conducting their work in full pub- partner institutions during the project lifetime. countries. Founded 20 years ago, Ecsite con- Nano TO TOUCH is a project supported by lic view. Two training workshops give researchers tips nects member institutions through projects the EU Seventh Framework Programme with on communication with non-expert publics and and activities and facilitates the exchange of the aim of creating innovative spaces where In an Open Nano Lab, visitors gain new insight provide all partners with insight into the ethical ideas and best practice on current issues. the public can learn about nanosciences and into the processes and methods of a modern and societal aspects of nanotechnology. nanotechnology. Research spaces have been laboratory by observing how doctorate and Members include science centres and muse- especially created in six science centres and graduate students obtain data and images Ecsite, the European network of science cen- ums, science festivals, natural history muse- museums across Europe to enable visitors to from their instruments, and how these are tres and museums, is in charge of the dissemi- ums, zoos, aquariums, universities, research interact with researchers in a totally new way, processed or discarded. nation of the project’s objectives and results. organisations and companies communicating and engaging the public in science through just stopping by to ask a question or observe This kind of peer-to-peer exchange can help The target of dissemination actions is twofold: accessible, interactive exhibits and pro- the scientists’ work as it takes place in the form meaningful connections between sci- on one hand science centres or museums and grammes. museum. Partner science centres and mu- ence and everyday life, both for adult visitors science communication professionals, on the seums joined forces with nearby universities and for youngsters – providing role models for other scientists and researchers. to set up these unique areas for research and the next generation of researchers. The Technical University of Munich is in charge live communication inside the centres’ exhibi- of evaluating the Nano to toUCH activities. An tion areas. overview of the methods used for the evaluation The Nano TO TOUCH project is coordinated is provided in the final section of this brochure. by the Deutsches Museum and the concept is based on the museum’s pioneering experience 02 with a nanoscience researcher working in full public view inside the museum. Two different formats of research area accommodate the Nano Researcher Live science centres’ different needs: Open Nano programmes Labs and Nano Researcher Live programmes. 01 The Nano Researcher Live programmes are new formats of event that expand the funda- mental idea of live communication in science centres and museums. Exhibits, demonstra- tions and interactive presentations create a nano-environment centred on a live presenta- tion area where scientists from the local part- ner universities explain and discuss their cur- rent work in a public forum. Photos : 01 The Open Nano Lab in Deutsche Museum’s Centre for New Technology. 02 Defect on a gold covered monolayer of polystyrene nanospheres with average diameter of 600 nm, University of Tartu. Open Nano Lab LOCATION : MUNICH, GERMANY The Open Nano Lab in the Deutsches Museum Deutsches Museum is located in the Centre for New Technologies, www.deutsches-museum.de a new exhibition focusing on nano- and bio- With more than 47,000 square meters of exhibi- technologies. The context of research carried tion space in the main building, 50 departments out in this lab is determined by the develop- and approximately 1.3 million visitors per year, ment of new fabrication strategies for materi- the Deutsches Museum is one of the biggest als science and nanotechnology. The research science and technology museums in the world. is focused on the generation and manipulation Its unique collection of historical and modern of organic semiconductor nanostructures on exhibits documents the evolution of technology inorganic surfaces. The aim is to develop ap- and science from the early beginnings to the proaches which are suitable for ambient con- present day. Interactive experiments, dioram- ditions (room temperature, air), thus having the as, films and multi-media systems supplement potential of a widespread, economical applica- the display. The Deutsches Museum created bility. For the research, four different Scanning the concept of the Open Nano Lab and now co- Probe Microscopes and a fast computer for ordinates the Nano to TOUCH project. Molecular Modelling simulations are used. An average number of eight students at a time are recruited from the Munich universities, from Technische interested visitors asking for internships, via universitaet Munich job offers published on the research website, www.tumuenchen.de and via cooperations and student exchange The Technische Universität München (TUM) programmes between the Open Lab and uni- is among the highest acclaimed universities versities from Canada and India. In addition to in Germany and has produced several Nobel the research, nano-demonstrations are given Laureates including Gerhard Ertl who received four days a week in a special section of the lab. the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2007. TUM Visitors are also continuously encouraged to boasts a strong profile in science and engi- ask questions and discuss. neering. Alongside the traditional key areas addressed by technical universities, powerful links have been also established with the life sciences, ranging from nutrition and food sci- ences, biotechnology and bioinformatics to medicine. The increasing importance of sci- ence communication was recognised by the establishment of a new faculty in 2009, the TUM School of Education. Photo : Live demonstration in Deutsches Museum’s Open Nano Lab. Open Nano Lab LOCATION : MILAN, ITALY The Open Nano Lab is the main element of the National Museum Nanotechnology Area in the New Frontiers of Science and Technology Department. In the lab, CIMaINa researchers study the properties of nanostructured ma- Leonardo da Vinci www.museoscienza.org terials such as titanium dioxide and carbon. These nanomaterials have applications in The Museum opened in 1953 and it is now the different devices: for example in photovoltaic largest science and technology museum in cells for producing electricity from sunlight, in Italy. Its mission is to disseminate scientific and supercapacitors that store electrical energy technological culture, making it accessible to or in cells for the production or exploitation all. Collections and interactive laboratories are of hydrogen. Visitors have the opportunity to organised into: Materials, Transport, Energy, observe scientists at work, interact with them Communication, Leonardo – Art and Science, and discover the world of nanotechnology New Frontiers, Science for Young Children. through nanoproducts, interactive exhibits, The museum is a place for sharing and dia- audiovisual facilities, science shows and edu- logue where it is possible to experience an in- cational activities. Visitors are invited to come teractive lab, discover the greatest collection to the museum and “disturb” the researchers, of models of machines realised from Leonardo to understand what nanotechnology is and to da Vinci’s drawings, explore the Toti subma- express their points of