sign in sign up
<<
Home , Molecules in stars

Public understanding

he motivation behind our exhibit was to highlight the role of and Tchemistry in unravelling astronomical wonders. We aimed to show how the new dis- The making of cipline of is combining the clues gleaned from telescopes with sophisticated lab- oratory experiments and computer modelling to understand the evolution of chemical complex- ity to the verge of itself. With the next gen- ’R’ Us! eration of telescopes now being designed to specifically seek out the molecular markers of The team behind a successful project to broaden the understanding of life, the importance of , as markers astrochemistry – Serena Viti, Wendy Brown, Martin McCoustra, Helen and progenitors for and planet formation, is paramount. The new science of astrochem- Fraser, Nigel Mason and Robert Massey – recount how they went about it istry combines the astronomers’ need to under- and what benefits resulted. stand the chemical evolution of the universe with the ’ desire to investigate chemi- Abstract cal reactions in the extreme environments Say “astrochemistry” and many people and physics come together to generate found in the atmospheres of stars and in the imagine something remote, irrelevant and, exciting and cutting-edge science that helps cold, dark depths of the . well, pretty dull. Yet to someone working in us understand the evolution of the cosmos. The idea for the Stars ’R’ Us! exhibit was orig- inally developed by Martin McCoustra, who the field this is exciting science that delves At the 2004 Royal Society Summer then enlisted the help of the rest of the team to into the origins of life itself. Astronomical Exhibition, the leading annual showcase for create what proved to be a highly successful observations have already identified more fundamental science in the UK, we won the exhibit. The exhibit combined the frontier than 120 different molecules in space. opportunity to show to the public how such research of astronomers, chemists and physicists Chemists and astronomers are now working science is performed, in an exhibit called from Nottingham, University College London, together to understand how these molecules Stars ’R’ Us! In this article we set out how the Open University and Leiden, with the pub- are formed. But how can we probe we approached the challenge of making our lic understanding of science expertise of the reactions occurring light years from our science as interesting to members of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. The material in labs? This is where astronomy, chemistry public as it is to us. the exhibit had to be accessible to a wide audi- ence: schoolchildren, the general public, leaders from industry and the government as well as astronomy. Astronomy has great public appeal, viewed through the spectroscopes, allowing the Fellows of the Royal Society and their guests all from the beauty of the night sky to the awe- viewer to see the distinct emission from the dif- visited the exhibition at various times during the inspiring scale of the cosmos; we hoped that by ferent in the . week. This fact was brought home to all of us putting our work in this context, people would Our second hands-on exhibit, Seeing the very clearly during the exhibition itself – at one appreciate what we are trying to find out. Unseen, compared images of a model inter- time we might be explaining the exhibit to a We decided that our exhibit (see figure 1) stellar cloud in the visible and in the infrared. retired couple with only a minimal knowledge should be eye-catching and should combine sci- It allowed us to demonstrate how using the of science, while the next minute we found our- entific information with hands-on experience. infrared allows us to see inside star-forming selves faced with a PhD student in . We designed a series of posters that told the regions that appear opaque to the human eye. When designing our exhibit, the main aim was story behind the exhibit in a manner accessible To achieve this effect we used a simple Sony dig- to make a contribution to widening general sci- to a non-specialist. We also accompanied the ital camcorder, equipped with a NightShot entific literacy and supporting lifelong learning. posters with a video, telling the story of how mode that converts the camera into a near- However, at events such as the Royal Society chemistry and astronomy are coming together to infrared camera. Our astronomical object, Summer Exhibition, the public also has the rare give a better understanding of how stars form. Barnard 68, was printed onto an acetate film, opportunity to see the enthusiasm and passion The main parts of our exhibit were four behind which was located a printed circuit with which we scientists pursue our scholarship. hands-on experiments that gave visitors a board onto which the logos of our universities The Royal Society Summer Exhibition is an ideal chance to see for themselves how some of the were etched. This was then illuminated from environment in which scientists of all ages can science worked. The first exhibit, Seeing Stars, behind by an array of near-infrared light- hone their skills in communicating with the pub- illustrated how visible spectroscopy allows us to emitting diodes. Light from the diodes, trans- lic and fulfil the lifelong learning agenda. For this detect atoms and molecules in stars. We made mitted through the logos and the image of reason, we ensured that the exhibit was staffed a series of glass “stars”, containing He, Ne and Barnard 68, was only visible with the camera in throughout the period of the exhibition by a team Ar, to be viewed through a hand-held spectro- NightShot mode. Switching between the normal combining scientists of all levels from our groups scope. We gave people a series of spectra and operating mode of the camera and its NightShot in Nottingham, UCL, the Open University and asked them to identify which was in each mode thus allowed us to illustrate the principle Leiden, plus active science communicators from star. Almost universally, visitors were amazed of using infrared astronomy to see the unseen. the Royal Observatory in Greenwich. that it was possible to identify different ele- Reproducing Space was our third exhibit and ments so easily. This exhibit also had a plasma consisted of a simple, static ultra-high vacuum The structure of the exhibit globe, of the type often found as interactive chamber illustrating the type of experimental It was decided that the best way to make this exhibits in science museums. The plasma globe apparatus used in our laboratory surface- science accessible to as wide an audience as appeal was two-fold: it attracted visitors, who science studies. Although this exhibit was sim- possible was to show how important it is for could not help but touch it, and it could also be ple, it was highly effective as people were able

6.22 December 2004 Vol 45 Public understanding

1 (right): Stars ’R’ Us! in place at the Royal Society. As well as a series of posters, it included four hands-on exhibits: from left to right, Seeing Stars, Reproducing Space, Seeing the Unseen and Life in a Bottle.

2 (below): The exhibit proved popular throughout the week.

to see the lengths to which it is necessary to go excited by a spark from a high-voltage dis- a crucial role in controlling the star cycle. in order to achieve the very low charge circuit. The chemical evolution of the We underlined how the cosmos formed from and pressures that are present in the interstellar mixture in the reaction cell was monitored in the simplest , H, along with small amounts medium. The chamber itself was cut away and advance of the exhibition and we presented of He and Li. Early stars took these elements we filled it with sweets. Needless to say, this these observations on materials supporting the and began the process of nuclear synthesis to move was very successful – and not only with exhibit. Although the discharge operated dur- form heavier and heavier atoms: in the first our younger visitors. ing the exhibition, the effect was illustrative hands-on exhibit, Seeing Stars, we described Our final hands-on exhibit was Life in a rather than real. how one can see this process occurring in the Bottle. This was the exhibit most modified from by studying how atoms absorb and emit our original intention. We had planned to The science behind the exhibit light that is characteristic of their structure. develop this as a working Urey–Miller experi- In summary, we told a story that focused on the The spectra of stars become more complex as ment with online infrared spectroscopy to star cycle and the chemistry that controls this the star gets older and, in the infrared, we can probe the evolving liquid phase. However, con- process. The first part of the story described even see evidence for the formation of molecules siderations of electrical and chemical safety led how stars form from vast clouds of gas and dust in some stellar atmospheres. In the Seeing the us to simplify this idea considerably. A straight- and how the cosmos evolves through a contin- Unseen exhibit we showed how infrared spec- forward experimental format was designed in uous cycle of star birth, life and death. In par- troscopy allows us to see objects not observable which a -based reaction mixture was ticular, our story stressed how chemistry plays in the visible spectrum.

December 2004 Vol 45 6.23 Public understanding

The next part of our story explained that in Hiden Analytical and Oxford Scientific all gave on 12 August 2004. Beyond this, it is planned to certain areas of the space between the stars, we generous contributions. exhibit Stars ’R’ Us! in the new exhibition space find dense clouds that are rich in molecules and being developed at the Royal Observatory, also in dust particles. Our visitors were sur- The Royal Society Summer Exhibition Greenwich, during Science Week next March, at prised to hear that more than 120 different mol- The afternoon of Sunday 4 July and morning of an event at the Open University next April and ecules have been identified in space so far. This Monday 5 July were given over to assembly of at the annual meeting of the British Association fact then led us on to why chemistry is impor- the exhibit at the Royal Society’s Carlton House for the Advancement of Science in September tant in the star formation process: the condi- Terrace building. Figure 1 shows the exhibit fully 2005. It will also form the focus of the public tions in these dense clouds are extremely harsh assembled and in place there. The Royal Society appreciation of science activities of a recently with very low temperatures and extremely low Summer Exhibition 2004 ran from 6 p.m. on the funded EPSRC Network being co-ordinated by pressures, meaning that many chemical reac- Monday until after 10.30 p.m. on Thursday 8 members of the Stars ’R’ Us! consortium, and tions are not possible. Although some gas-phase July. It was open to the public from 6–9 p.m. on may be shown at the network launch meeting in reactions do occur, for some molecules they the Monday, 11 a.m. – 4.30 p.m. on the Tuesday, April. The Royal Society of Chemistry is also cannot account for the observed abundances and 10 a.m. – 4.30 p.m. on the Wednesday and looking into mechanisms to capitalize on the pos- and chemical reactions on the surface of dust Thursday. The Tuesday evening from 6.30 to itive view of chemistry put forward by Stars ’R’ grains must occur. This fact forms the basis of 9.30 p.m. was given over to a session for invited Us! (and the other chemistry-focused exhibits at the research of several of the members of our educational professionals, while the Wednesday the Summer Exhibition) through events in their team. The chemists and physicists in our con- and Thursday evenings from 6.30 to 10.30 p.m. Chemistry Week in November 2005. sortium are involved in investigating the rates were the Royal Society Soirees. On a wider scale, we have developed a web- of formation of molecules on surfaces and in The Summer Exhibition itself was very busy site to accompany our exhibit (http://www ices and their release into the gas phase. We (figure 2) but incredibly rewarding. All those we .chem.ucl.ac.uk/cosmicdust/starsrus.html). This explained how we use special equipment to sim- talked to were enthusiastic about our exhibit site makes our materials available to a wider ulate the low and pressure condi- and the exhibition overall. In fact, ours was audience, provides links to the various research tions of the interstellar medium and were able voted among the top three exhibits by visiting groups involved and aims to promote further to show the visitors the apparatus that is used schoolchildren. From the moment the doors our public awareness activities. The informa- in the Reproducing Space exhibit. opened to each public session, there was a con- tion on this website is also linked to the web- The final part of our story focused on the ori- tinual stream of members of the public and site for the new EPSRC network in “Surface gins of life itself. We explained the different school groups to meet. Their enthusiasm and Science Applications in Laboratory theories about how life began on Earth and our thirst for knowledge was infectious. The Astrophysics” – AstroSurf. Life in a Bottle exhibit illustrated one of these evening sessions were more formal, but also In conclusion, Stars ’R’ Us! was a successful theories. We concluded by pointing out that we busy. The Tuesday evening session in particular exhibit at this year’s Royal Society Summer are all made of the simple atoms and molecules provided a considerable amount of interest in Exhibition. We feel that the exhibit projected a that are formed and processed into more com- our exhibit and in the possibility of using the positive image of chemistry working closely plex molecules in stars – Stars ’R’ Us! science in lessons in schools. with physics and astronomy to attempt to Our team of exhibitors was extremely effec- answer fundamental questions of importance in Funding the exhibit tive in communicating our science to as wide a understanding the evolution of the universe and Of course, building an exhibit such as this did range of people as possible and all of us bene- life. We believe it has had a positive impact on not come cheap and we were aware, right from fited enormously from communicating our sci- the public, our colleagues in the wider scientific the start, of the high cost of such a venture. ence to an enthusiastic audience. community, funding agencies (both public and Following a briefing session organized by the charitable) and the political establishment. This Royal Society and discussions with previous Beyond the Royal Society can only be of benefit to science as a whole. exhibitors, it became clear that we had to take It was always our intention that this exhibit Finally, this exhibit would have not been pos- a professional approach to assembling our would be made available to the members of the sible without the help of the many sponsors exhibit. As a first step, we drew up a realistic consortium who developed it for use after the listed above, and without the help of the vari- budget for both the preparation of the exhibit Royal Society Summer Exhibition, and a legal ous postdoctoral fellows, research students and and the running costs associated with the week framework has been drawn up and signed by the summer vacation students who ably supported of the exhibition itself. Sponsorship was then parties involved to ensure the future of the us at the exhibition itself, and we would like to sought from several sources. We received gen- exhibit. It has already been used at a University extend our thanks to all of them. ● erous funding from our universities: University of Nottingham open day in June and at a UCL College London, the University of Nottingham chemistry open day in early July. Part of the Serena Viti, Dept of Physics and Astronomy, and the Open University. We also received sup- exhibit, Seeing Stars, also made an appearance at University College London, Gower Street, London, port from several external sources including the the Science Museum in August this year. Further WC1E 6BT, UK; Wendy Brown, Dept of Chemistry, Royal Astronomical Society, the EPSRC, PPARC local events within our universities, for example University College London, 20 Gordon Street, and the Royal Society of Chemistry, who all undergraduate and postgraduate open days, and London, WC1H 0AJ, UK; Martin McCoustra, gave generously. Additional, smaller, amounts of local public awareness events are planned. As a School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, funding were received from the CCLRC, from direct result of the Summer Exhibition, we have University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK; Helen the Astrophysical Chemistry group of the Royal also received several requests for schools lectures Fraser, Raymond and Beverly Sackler Laboratory, Society of Chemistry, and from the Thin Films and for further information about the science Leiden Observatory, PO Box 9513, 2300 RA, and Surfaces Group of the Institute of Physics. behind our exhibit. Leiden, The Netherlands; Nigel Mason, Dept of We were also able to secure sponsorship from Our participation in the Summer Exhibition Physics and Astronomy, The Open University, various companies: VTS, Caburn Vacuum has been reported in our various university Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK; Robert Massey, Science, Thermo Electron, SHI-APD, Oxford newsletters and Helen Fraser was interviewed for National Maritime Museum and Royal Observatory, Applied Research, VAT Vacuum, Leybold, the BBC Radio 4 programme The Material World Park Row, Greenwich, London, SE10 9NF, UK.

6.24 December 2004 Vol 45