Outreach
Outreach undertaken by the Cooper Group.
The Robo-Chemist at the British Science Festival
On Sunday 14 September, attendees at the Museum of Liverpool were treated to a glimpse of the present and future of Chemistry with the University of Liverpool’s Robo-Chemist.
This interactive demonstration featured a real robotic arm programmed and controlled to perform chemical experiments in real time by students from the MSc in Digital Chemistry programme, who developed the experiment as part of their course. The robot carefully moved small vials of liquid into automatic magnetic stirrers before placing them in front of a camera system automatically recording and storing data monitoring colour changes in the liquid during reaction.
What made it compelling was how the event brought to life the concept of human-robot collaboration in science. Rather than replacing the researcher, the robot acted as a lab partner, handling precise, repetitive tasks while the user could focus on interpretation, decision-making, and asking questions.
For more details Please see: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/research/news/stories/title,1531904,en.php
Chemistry PhD student creates AI art for River of Light festival
Emma Brass, A University of Liverpool PhD student is bringing her expertise in robotics and coding to this year’s River of Light festival, which celebrates the theme ‘The Science of Light’.
Emma Brass a fourth-year PhD student in the Department of Chemistry, has co-created FACE VALUE, one of ten installations featured in the festival, which runs along Liverpool’s waterfront until Sunday 2 November.
Developed in partnership with artist Venya Krutikov and produced by the Invisible Wind Factory, FACE VALUE invites visitors to explore how technology shapes identity in an increasingly digital world.
For more details, please see: Chemistry PhD student creates AI art for River of Light festival
ChemTube 3D polymer
ChemTube3D is a freely available website based at the University of Liverpool aimed at students, lecturers and practising chemists.
The web-based interactive simulations of materials and polymers available in ChemTube3D were created as part of a HEA Physical Sciences Centre Development project that enjoyed additional support from the Portfolio Partnership and funded two summer undergraduate students.
'Molecular Cages - The Hole Story'
As part of the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition 2017, a team from the Department of Chemistry showcased some of the cutting edge research carried out in the Cooper Group as part of their exhibit stand ‘Molecular Cages – The Hole Story.’
Selected from a competitive application process, the team were selected as one of only 22 exhibitors, and brought to life the research around porous organic cages through a series of hands-on interactives.
Dry Water on display at the Times Cheltenham Science Festival and Catalyst Chemistry Museum, June 2011
The annual Times Cheltenham Science Festival celebrates all branches of science and putting it on display to the public. The Discover Zone is the Festival’s free interactive demonstration area, showcasing a variety of eye-catching scientific principles and products. In 2011 the Cooper Group was invited to lay out a stall exhibiting Dry Water chemistry as part of the EPSRC Impact Trail.
Ben Carter spent the week demonstrating the seemingly mad science behind dry water and liquid marbles, and the uses these materials can be put to in gas storage and catalysis. School groups, scientists and members of the public were able to see water being blended into powder before their very eyes, before then seeing the water squeezed out again.
Ben then spent a further day at the Catalyst Chemistry Museum in Widnes, as part of the RSC team supporting Chemistry at Work week. Pupils and teachers from a number of local schools were able to see dry water chemistry up close and personal.
ChemCareers 2010 presents: “Chemistry Degree… What’s Next?”
The Liverpool RSC Younger Members Committee organised a series of short talks by a variety early career chemists, for the benefit of Chemistry students at the University of Liverpool. The aim was to provide inspiration for those wondering what they could do with their Chemistry degree.
Alongside the Cooper Group’s Ben Carter were employees from Tata Steel, Rockwood Additives, ACAL Energy, the RSC and Laser Micromachining Ltd, discussing how they progressed from graduation to gainful employment.