Scientists at NUI Maynooth were rushed off their feet last week when 200 teenagers from local schools descended on their labs.
The youngsters were there to participate in Maynooth's first science open day, which is set to become an annual event. "Brilliant," was how many of the students described the day, which involved them in experimental work in the college's physics and chemistry labs followed by career talks in the afternoon. Many of them were clearly enthralled by the experience. "We've made nylon and saw gun cotton being produced," enthused Aileen Foster, a pupil at Scoil Mhuire, Clane, Co Kildare.
"It gives you an insight into what the lab is like," commented Lisa Durkan, a pupil at Scoil Dara, Kilcock, Co Kildare. "We have a lab in school but we do only very basic experiments. Today we've done some very interesting things." Making "gold" coins was classmate Sinead O'Malley's favourite experiment, she told E&L. Senior lab technician Anne Cleary, who was in charge of the "gold", said that some students had returned twice to turn copper halfpennies gold by coating them with zinc and heating them over bunsen burners.
"My great interest is biology," observed Keith Graham from Scoil Mhuire, Clane. "But after seeing this I wouldn't mind doing biochemistry. It's hands-on and very interesting."
"It was great that we could do experiments that we couldn't do in school because we don't have all the equipment," confided Hilary Phelan, also from Scoil Mhuire. "I recognised a lot of stuff that we have covered in school." "The students are very enthusiastic," observed lab technician Berni Coleman. "Chemistry gets a bad name. People think it's all about bad smells and that it can't be fun. "Normally our job is to prepare the labs for undergraduates. Today we're stepping back and doing fun experiments."
The physics labs, too, were busy. Students pored over instruments measuring the harmonic composition of musical notes; they watched fascinated as metal cans were popped to show the influence of atmospheric pressure.
"It's one thing to read about it in a textbook; it's another to see it in operation," said Dr Jim Slevin, professor of experimental physics.
Over in the optics lab, students were treated to a variety of experiments using different optics instruments. "They're using instruments they would use in school right up to a state-of-the-art optical spectrometre that's used in spacecraft to monitor light emissions from planetary atmospheres and sunlight," Slevin explained.
Maynooth's science open day has two aims, he said. "We hope to stimulate an interest in science generally and also attract young people to Maynooth."
All the signs are that the day was a huge success. Next year, Maynooth scientists hope to host a week-long programme and target Transition Year students.
