Members of the Dr. Serpe research group show polymer demos at Science Rendezvous
It's never too soon to start learning about polymers, says Dr. Michael Serpe and his research group. Last weekend, Dr. Serpe and his group took their show on the road to Science Rendezvous, an all-ages science outreach event at the TELUS World of Science. He and his students presented a number of demos that focused on these materials.
The polymer exhibit was wildly popular, according to Dr. Serpe.
"We made polymer-based 'slime' by mixing common white school glue with borax. We had a number of food dye colours available, allowing kids to make slime with their favourite colour," says Dr. Serpe.
But it was just as educational as it was fun. Dr. Serpe and his students showed the kids just how useful polymers can be, including their practical applications in baby diapers and disease diagnosis.
"We had polyacrylic acid on hand to show the kids the suberabsorbant properties of this very useful polymer. Also on exhibit were polymer-based colour tuneable materials that our lab develops," explains Dr. Serpe. "We showed how the colour of the material depends on the temperature of the water, and the potential application for diagnosing disease."
Science Rendezvous is an annual event that features dozens of interactive experiments and exhibits. Run by students, instructors and other science professionals, the event had participants from the University of Alberta, the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), the King's University College, and the Edmonton Public School Board.