The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Science Bag A Successful Forum for Science Outreach C. Frank Shaw Ill, Robert G. Greenler, Norman P. Lasca, Jr., and Arthur S. Brooks Departments of Chemistry, Physics, Geological Sciences, and Biological Sciences The University of Wisconsln-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53201-0413
The Science Bag1 program a t the University of Wisconthat are chosen from among various science disciplines sin-Milwaukee (UWM) is a unique, long-running program (Table 1).Over the years contributions have been drawn for outreach to the ~ e n e r a~ublic. l Our audiences have refrom sponded enthusia&icallyto the exciting and colorful physics, 44 programs shows. Scientists, especially we chemists, are seeking biology, 31 means to regenerate public enthusiasm for our disciplines. geology, 17 The format used here could be successfully used else' chemistly, 14 where, perhaps with some modification to suit local situamath, 3 tions. anthropology, 2 The most famous ~ o ~ u lscience ar talks are probably the ' geography, 1 "Christmas Lectures" and the related "Friday Evening Discourses" of the Royal Institution of Great BritTable 1. Three Representative Seasons of the UWM Science Bag ain. which were initiated in 1826 bv ~ a i a d and a ~ continue to the prese& 1989-1 990 1987-1 988 1984-1 985 time. Chemists Sir Michael Faraday, Sir Humphrey D a y , and physicist November The Alchemy and Science in the Dark: The Clarinet, the Chemistry of Gold The World of Shadows Washtub and the Beniamin Thomoson (Count Musical Nails: How ~ u i f o r dare ) scienti'sts whose repuMusical instruments tations are based on diverse accomwork plishments including their prowess as public lecturers. Thus, the Friday Frank Shaw Robert Greenler Robert Greenler Discourses are a famous precedent Department of Cnemistry Department of Physics Depamment of Pnys cs for the Science Bag program format. December No programs No programs Above program A single program is repeated every in December in December wntinues Dec 7 and 14. Friday night of a kven month. The No program Dec 21 or annual series, w&h starts in Octo28. ber or November and runs thmugh January Chaos and Fractal On the Trail of the Thkk- Temperatures: From April or May, consists of five to seven Forms: Skulied Dinosaur Absolute Zero to a Biliion monthly presentations (Table 1). Irregularity in Nature Degrees The programs typically last 45 to 60 minutes and include a fast-paced Emily Giffin Anatasios Tsonis Richard Diltman mixture of demonstrations, slides, Department of Department of Department of Physics Geosciences Geological and and audience-participation events. Geophysical Sciences (Cross-town drivim times are short in the surrounding metropolitan The Pointiliist Painter, February Bolts, Jolts, and Volts: Now You See It, Now area. and this allows us to have the the Sunday Comics, and The Beauty of Lightning You Donf ANAbout Color 7V: Color Mixing in Eyes shows on Friday nights. In other lothe Art and Technology cales adjustment of the day, time, of Physics and frequency may be appropriate.)
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Diversity and Popularity of the Program The series was conceived as an instrument for public education in science in 1972 by R. Greenler and G. Sehmieg of the UWM Physics Department. The 20-year run of this university-based popular science series makes it one of the oldest continuous programs of its type in the United States. Each year's schedule of programs provides an assortment of shows
'Science Bag is a trademark of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
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March
April
Robert Greenler Department of Physics Stlcks and Stones and Broken Bones' How Archeologrsts Won
Glenn Schmieg Department of Physics Food Flavors and Fragrances K~tchen Alchemy
Lynne Goldstein Department of Anthropology Space, Time, Einstein, and Spacetime
Frank Shaw Norman Lasca Department of Chemistry Department of Geosciences Sounds in the Night Symmetry in Art, Nature Featuring the Greater andMolecules Milwaukee Frog Chorus
John Friedman Department of Physics
Diane Seale Frank Shaw Department of Biological Department of Chemistry Sciences
Glenn Schmieg Department of Physics Foldmg, Floodrng and Faulrrng Hou Me Eanh rs Shaped
The series has been highly successful and usually plays to a full house in a physics lecture hall that seats 250 people. At times in the past, attendees have lined up a n hour or more before t h e show began, and on some Fridays would-be watchers have even been turned away. Over the first 19 years, 434 presentations (107 different programs) have attracted about 95,000 people!
Our Audience Adiverse audience is drawn from throughout the metropolitan Milwaukee area. Many are parents with children of elementary and middle-school age. Free admission and the educational aspects make it excellent family entertainment. Many parents continue to attend a s their teenagers "outmow" the promam. Others are drawn to specific topics once-or twice year. Young audience memhek are sometimes the third generation of a family to attend a Science Bag. The local science teachers who attend often discover new material and demonstrations that they can use in their own classrooms. They oRen encourage their students to attend programs whose content will overlap recent or upcoming classroom topics. A survey of attendees during 1985 produced the following profiles, shown by percentages.
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Older than high school age-71% In the 30 to 50 year age bracket--39% UWM students-8% UWM faculty or staff and their families-17% No affiliation with the university-75% These figures are consistent with the goal of producing a public-outreach program. The program also attracts a number of devotees: 40% of the audience said that they had been coming to see programs for three or more years. One-third of our audience said that they had attended more than six previous programs. Organization and Format One of us (RG) is presently the director of the series. The director recruits the presenters and consults with them during the preparation of their programs. He later offers suggestions for possible modifications after viewing their first performance. He also handles details, such as room arrangements, publicity, and public inquiries. When talking with a potential presenter, the director always stresses that each Science Bag presentation must be a performance, rather than a lecture. A combination of slides, video clips, displays, and interest-catching demonstrations are used.
Figure 1. Assembled demonstrations and props greet the audience as they enter the lecture hall about 10 minutes before starting time. These visual stimuli heighten the audience's anticipation and arouse curiosity about the program.
We strive to make the atmosphere stimulating and excitine. Before the audience arrives. the lecture bench is usua15 already set with an intriguing array of props and preassembled demonstration apparatus. Like a n overture a t a symphony, this display giveithe audience a preview of the themes to he covered. and it helps to arouse curiosity and anticipation a s they take their seats and wait for the-show to beein (Fie. 1). ~ n & e n c e p a r t i c i ~ a t i o(Fig. n 2) contributes to a sense of excitement and involvement, especially for the youngsters. Although entertainment is not the primary purpose of the Science Bag, the "variety show" format engages the audience, stimulates learning, and provides a fun and memorable exposure to topics that might otherwise seem dull or difficult. As a side benefit, many of the materials developed for the Science Bag Programs subsequently get used in lecture demonstrations in university classes.
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Budgeting The series provides a budget (presently $1,000 for one month's oerformances) for each speaker to cover s u.~. ~ l i e s and equipment and for hiring students to help prepare the .uroeram The series is funded hv the IJWM Colleec - of Letters and Science. Recently, we have also received a generous endowment. which is administered through the UWM Foundation, fr&n a n alumna who has received three degrees from UWM and its predecessor institutions since 1925. After expenses have been met, speakers usually have a few hundred dollars remaining that may then be used to support their research and scholarly activities. This constitutes the only financial reward for the presenters, who typically spend 50 to 100 hours of their time preparing and givine a month's series of oronams. The principle reasons for participation are altruistic. The following sentiment is particularly candid and revealing. I t comes from our colleague, Professor Donna Van Wvnsberehe of the Department of Bioloeical Sciences, who has given three ~ c i e n e eBags.
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It is, in reality, really fun to be able to awaken the minds of the young-at-heart ta science in everyday life: in the kitchen, the garage, the body; in Bran Flakes, soda, slime; in lungs, fat, or flatus! Promotion The Science Bag is promoted by announcements in the public newspapers, community publications, UWM publications, and with spots on public radio and various commercial radio stations. Monthly flyers (Fig. 3) are posted
F g ~ r e2 A-a CITL par: c pal or F a r mpor'anl 'eal.'e of eacn pro. gram Yodqsle'i an0 some1 mes c osiers, arc a v a t s eager 10 "nleers. here I N O yo-ln art aooJ to pan for goc pa ileo lead nuggets). Volume 69 Number 12 December 1992
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Figure 3. Flyers for two recent UWM Science Bag Programs on chemical subjects on campus and also sent to public libraries and middle and high schools in the area. Local newspapers sometimes run a major article reviewing the opening night performance. They often include a photograph of the presenter using one of the demonstration items: for example, illustrating symmetry with a soccer ball; playing a homemade instrument to demonstrate the physics of music; mixing reagents for a reaction shown Table 2. Science Bags with Chemical Subjects
Chemical Energy: Batteries, Bugs and Biceps (1992-1993) Molecules, Molecules Everywhere! What in the World Isn't Chemistry (1991-1992) Ancient Arrowheads, Roman Baseball Cards, and Optical Fibers: The Many Uses of Glass (1991-1 992) Red Blueberries, Runny Jello, and Rising Bread: Kitchen Biochemistry (1991-1992) The Alchemy and Chemistry of Gold (1989-1990) Ashes to Flashes, Dust to Rust: Burning Questionsin Combustion (1986-1 987) Symmetry in An, Nature and Molecules (1984-1985) Metals: Menace or Medicine (1981-1982) Polymers Molecules: Super Dupers from Teeny Weenies (1980-1981) Fire and Brimstone: The Chemistry of Hell (1977-1 978) Sand + Fire + Imagination = Glass (1976-1 977) And the Rockets Red Glare-The Chemistry of Fireworks (1974-1975) Earth, Air, Fire, and Water (197S1974)
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by overhead projector; and blowing glass objects. One program, "Food Flavors and Fragrances", even made the front page! Reports on a few of the programs have been picked up by the news services and have appeared in newspapers across the country. During the year, individual presenters are invited to be a part of special TV and radio interviews and programs. Science Bag programs have been repeated for such diverse audiences a s the Milwaukee Section of the ACS, a Cub Scout pack, college chemistry departments, The 2nd International Conference on Gold and Silver in Medicine and the local Sierra Club chapter. They have also been incorporated into National Chemistry Week activities. Chemistry Topics Table 2 lists the chemistry topics presented over the life of the series. Participation by chemists has increased in recent years. This may reflect our profession's renewed interest in lecture demonstrations and public outreach. Two recent programs presented by one of us (CFS) are discussed in some detail helow. The Alchemy and Chemistry of Gold
A chemistry program entitled "The Alchemy and Chemistry of Gold" was offered in November 1989 to coincide with National Chemistry Week. I t drew upon the public fascination with the oldest and noblest of all the elements. Benchtop Demonstmtions The opening is a variation of the "The Ira Remsen Story" ( I ) . It is designed to compare the result of placing a gold coin in a vessel of nitric acid to the result seen after adding copper pennies.
As the penny dissolves, the dramatic evolution of redbrown NO2 and the formation of a blue Cu12 solution provides an eye-catching demonstration with much activity and color. These chemical and physical changes provide a striking contrast for the audience as they simultaneously and anxiously monitor the fate of the inert gold coin, which remains in the nitric acid, untarnished (and secure!) throughout the show.
cussing noble reasons for placing value on gold, such as wantine cold for wld-based antiarthritic drum. and for the gold-leafand %il&ngused in artistic endeavors.
Slide Shows a n d Audience Participation A series of slides illustrates the use of gold in art and technology from preindustrial societies to the space age. A second set of slides traces the evolution of gold mining from simple panning all the way to the modern procedure of alkaline cyanide extraction. Later in the show. several volunteers took advantage of the opportunity to pan for gold-painted lead nuggets (Fig. 2). The silver-adulterated crown that led Archimedes to the concept of specific gravity is discussed. Then this principle is applied to discover that the "gold" bricks on the lecture hall bench are actually a base substance. Next we again use slides to introduce a demonstration of a bogus alchemical "transformation" of copper to silver to eold. The slides chosen show the audience such novelties as
.Atomic structure and reactivity Molecular structure of the [A&J ions and the lability of ligand exchange Relative oxidation potentials of gold and copper
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.A translation of the Bartholomeus Anglicus 1420 encyclopedia entry on gold (3) Alchemical representations of aqua regia A representation of the philosopher's stone This alchemical "transmutation" is based on the wellknown sequence in which a penny or copper disk is zincplated and then flamed to effect a brass plating (2). Overhead Projector Demonstrations The final two sets of demonstrations are carried out using the overhead projector to conserve materials without loss of visibility. The behavior of group IA (Cu, Ag, and Au) and IB metals (Li and Na) in water are compared and related to their positions on the periodic table. Then we demonstrate and discuss the following transformation, which occurs due to ligand exchange reactions. [AuC141- + [AuBr41- + [Au(CN)J yellow + reddish purple + colorless Closure and Values
We bring the discussion to a close using a gold mirror as a symbol of our need to reflect upon the many values behind the high memium that human societies have long placed upon this elusive and enigmatic substance. We examine the destructive values surroundinz "eold lust". and then we turn to more humanitarian reasGnHfor our h t e r est in gold. Our discussion begins by dealing with human greedthe basest of motives for desiring gold-as seen by reviewing the stories about Jason and the golden fleece and Midas and the golden touch. We close the program by dis-
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Summary.
Throughout the program the demonstrations provided o ~ ~ o r t u n i t ito e sdiscuss scientific ~ r i n c i ~ l such e s as those 1;sied below.
Thus, the showmanship successfully serves as a vehicle for conveying chemical concepts to the public. Food Flavors and Fragrances: Kitchen Alchemy
Another popular chemical topic was "Food Flavors and Fraerances: Kitchen Alchemv". Natural food flavor ineredients were used to discuss diverse topics.
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Chemical extractions: extracting menthol from pepper-
mint Ontical actiuitv: discovexine that two well-known and disare caused by two entmn flavors,mmwny nnd ~p~armmt,
onraomrra, d-rarwne and 1-carvonc,that also y w l d t w n distinctly different aromas. .Volatility: discovering how molecular diffusion allows flavorings to communicate with us through our noses, and investieatine .. .. the effect of temDerature on this urocess .Hecepto-ubstrate interactions: rvplnring odorant-recepror ir~terxtionein rhr now Gas chrumotography. rcsnlution o f dwerre flavor cumpc-
nents The local ACS section subsequently scheduled this program for a monthly meeting. It has been requested frequently from the chemistry department's speakers list. Molecules, Molecules Everywhere: What in the World Isn't Chemistry?
The program for November, 1991, which included National Chemistry Week, was entitled "Molecules, Molecules Everywhere: What in the World Isn't Chemistry?" I t was presented by D. Bennett. This program subtly addressed the topic of chemophobia by illustrating the ubiquity of chemicals in our everyday world and the greater universe. As seen in Figure 3, the flyer for this presentation makes this point very well by framing and locking a globeinstead of a metal atomwithin the molecular framework of buckminsterfullerene. This playful, but poignant, use of the popular "buckyball" made an excellent advertisement. Literature Cited 1.Surnmerlin, R. kBorgford. C. L.: Daly J B. Ckemid &monsfmtions:A SoumeBook forlbackera: American Chemical Saciety. 1987;Vol. 2, pp 104-105. 2. Lsng. C. M.: Showalter, D. L. Yea Yirgmio, Chemistry Con Be Fun: University of WismnsinStevens Point. 1989;pp W . 3. Hunt, L. B. Gold Bulletin 1975.8.22-21.
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