TALKS

A comet Halley tail
In the first year of my PhD I helped re-analyse data sent back by the Giotto PICCA probe that flew through the tail of comet Halley in 1986. Although this work was quite simple I learnt a lot of science, it lead to my first publication and gave me experience working with a great scientist. It also brought home to me how easy it is to make mistakes, wrong assumptions and how essential (but challenging) clear thinking is. (ca. 1h, A level)

Fullerenes, Nanotubes and Nobel Prizes - the Discovery of Buckminsterfullerene
The discovery of a new form of carbon in 1985 - the Fullerenes - has lead to a new carbon mechano that promises amazing developments for the future. In 1996 the Nobel Prize for Chemistry was awarded to 3 scientists for the discovery of these new and potentially important materials. This talk is an account of the scientific story, breakthroughs and latest research. It is given by a scientist who was lucky enough to be directly involved with these Nobel Prize winning scientists and the pioneering research. (1 – 1 1/2h: includes video clips, demonstrations and handouts)

Spectroscopy of the Fullerenes
IR, UV, NMR and Mass spectroscopy provide scientists with a wide range of clues to unravelling and identifying chemical structure and composition. At the heart of the success of these techniques is the fundamental idea of symmetry. C60, Buckminsterfullerene, probably the most wonderfully structured and symmetrical of molecules, has an equally wonderful and rewarding set of spectroscopic signatures. We shall look at the structure of C60 and by its example explain and explore spectroscopy. (A-level, molecular models provided, max. 30)

Electricity and the Baghdad Battery
This is the story of electricity. We will explore how electricity is found in nature – e.g. in storms but also in crystals. Then we explore how we can generate electricity from magnetism. We will discuss the chemistry and physics of the electrochemical cell and make a simple battery out of household materials to power some electronic devices. On the way we will explore the history of this important invention and the possibility that it might have been invented by the Mesopotamians over 2000 years ago! (GCSE – A-level: 1h: presentation and demos)

Castaway Science
Shipwrecked you find yourself castaway on an island in the middle of nowhere, could you use science to find out where you are? This workshop will tell you how! We will learn about the astronomy that describes the movements of the Sun and stars as well as other physical phenomena and use our knowledge to describe how we would build simple low tech. apparatus to work out 'where on Earth we are'. (GCSE - A Level Workshop ca. 1h: video clips)

The Transistor
The transistor is a most important and influential invention as it has provided the means for the computer and communications revolution. This has lead to the space age and to incredible developments of the internet. In this talk we will explore the transistor with the aid of many demonstrations and audience participation. We will see how the transistor can be used to amplify and look at its latest use in the tiny memory chips of palm computers and digital cameras and beyond. (1h: demonstrations and audience participation)

Rough Science
Based on the six BBC / OU TV series this talk will go a little deeper into the science of Rough Science. This will be complemented by film clips and demonstrations including finding gold in New Zealand, the generation of electricity from waves in the Indian Ocean, a light beam communicator, a Brighton seawater battery and much more. (1h: demonstrations, video clips)

Hollywood Science
Based the BBC / OU TV series Hollywood Science. How realistic is the science behind some of Hollywood's classic movies and stunts? We will take a number of Hollywood Films and look in more detail to find out. Depending on time films will include; SPEED, Shanghai Noon, Die Hard, The Score, Fight Club, Waterworld, Chain Reaction ... (1h: film clips + time for discussion)

Science of your mobile phone
The mobile phone has amazing computing power, a sophisticated radio transceiver and all sort of other modern gadgets and gizmos built in to allow you to phone people around the world. We will explore some of the science of mobile phones. Includes experiments and demonstrations – bring your mobiles! (1h: film clips + time for discussion)

WORKSHOPS

Making a homemade Battery - potato battery workshop
Batteries are everywhere; torches, cars, computers, toys, PDA's, radios, Game Boys, cameras and even mobile phones! We will explore the basic chemistry and physics of batteries and have a go at making some homemade batteries. We will use these to power a flashing light and a Morse code buzzer. Armed with this science we will attempt to make a homemade 'emergency' battery to power a radio! (GCSE - A Level Workshop ca. 1h: video clips)

Shake-a-gen
A workshop to exploring the science of electricity. We will build, what is perhaps, the simplest of electrical generators that lights an LED demonstrating how electricity is produced from magnetism. It also helps us to understand the differences between current and voltage as well as AC and DC. (GCSE to A Level Workshop ca. 2 h: max. 20, Note: there is a cost per person to cover the cost of materials)

Space, Shapes and Science - a Fullerene Workshop
This workshop deals with the discovery, structure and properties of C60, Buckminsterfullerene (work which lead to the 1996 Nobel Prize for Chemistry). C60 is the head of a family of amazing new carbon structures - the Fullerenes. Jonathan Hare was part of the pioneering team that developed ways of making the Fullerenes. The workshop takes us from the tiny world of atoms to the vast world of astronomy. We shall also explore some simple maths connecting the symmetrical objects that we come across along the way. The W/S includes constructing (and keeping) a molecular model of Buckminsterfullerene. (Primary - A level Workshop ca. 1-2h: molecular models provided, max. 30)

Christmas LED workshop
A practical electronics workshop making up circuits of coloured LED's to decorate homemade Christmas cards and trees. The children will need to make the cards and trees before the workshop and bring them along for wiring up (ca. 1-2 h: max. 20, Note: there is a cost per person to cover the cost of materials)

The Moon Clock
This workshop deals with the Moon and its orbit around the Earth including the explanation of the phases of the Moon as well as tides, eclipses and other astronomical events. In addition to this we will make (and keep) an electronic Moon Clock. This simple circuit using only a handful of components includes 12 LED lights and an PIC integrated circuit. The lights show the phase of the Moon, allowing us to clock the path over the lunar month. (GCSE to A Level Workshop ca. 2 h: max. 20, Note: there is a cost per person to cover the cost of materials)

Light and fibre optics
What is light, where does it come from, how is it made and how does it travel? Find out and also learn about fibre optics and why and how it is used in communication such as our global internet and telephone networks.

Geodesic Domes
The Epcote Centre (Disney USA) and the Eden Project are examples of Geodesic domes. We will learn all about these fascinating structures and in teams make large (3m) models.

The Transistor
The transistor is one of the most important and influential of inventions as it has provided the means for the computer revolution, the space age and to incredible developments in communications and the internet. We will make experiments to explore how the transistor amplifies and look at their latest use in the tiny memory chips of palm computers, digital cameras the amazing possibilities for the future. (GCSE - A Level Workshop ca. 1-1 1/2h: demonstrations and audience participation, max. 20)

Simple Radio
Every second of the day we are surrounded by radio waves carrying music and news in many languages. We take radio for granted but it forms the basis of our TV's, broadcast and mobile phone networks as well as allowing global communications for internet and space travel. Here we build simple radios to pick up music and news programs on the medium wave band – and they don't even need a battery! (GCSE – A-level: 1 1/2h)

For a review of the Hollywood Science talk try the
BBC News web site and and here for student reviews

click here to find out what people say about Jonathan's CSC work

Short Biography of JPH
Dr Jonathan Hare is a freelance science communicator. His PhD work lead to a method of making the football molecule C60, Buckminsterfullerene. He has worked as a 'Time Lord' at the National Physical laboratory working with atomic clocks as well as with British Gas developing a gas powered car. He has been fortunate to be part of all the BBC/OU Rough Science and Hollywood Science teams. He is currently a visiting research fellow at Sussex University. He loves making things, juggling, hill walking, amateur radio and painting.