Celebrating science on our Faculty with sparkling Leiden Science Family Day
Elephant toothpaste, a trip among the stars or a lecture on mathematical juggling: on Sunday 8 October 2023, the Faculty of Science opened its doors for the third edition of the Leiden Science Family Day. A programme jam-packed with workshops, demonstrations, lectures and peeks behind the scenes for anyone curious about science. Plenty to do, thankfully, because the day was busier than ever.
Normally the Gorlaeus Building is empty and quiet on Sundays, but today the atrium is buzzing with activity and enthusiastic visitors. Downstairs at the experiments square, you can put on a lab coat and make your own slime, or peer through a microscope at transparent zebrafish larvae
There is also rubber that can count, an interesting mathematical guessing problem and a race track where you have to take your empty coke can to the finish line with a statically charged balloon.
In several classrooms, young and old participate in workshops: they design an alien, play the antibiotics game and experiment with acids and bases.
Floating people and ... coconut butts?
One floor above, the ice-cold nitrogen clouds of the Freezing Physics Show draw all the attention. The students of the Rino Foundation show how spectacular physics can be with all kinds of cool experiments. They even let visitors float on the human levitator! The Hortus botanicus brought the largest coconuts in the world. And well, they do look a bit like... 'Buttocks!', a young visitor mischievously shouts. At the stands of Rijksmuseum Boerhaave and Naturalis, visitors rack their brains over a photo quiz and DNA code.
Exploring science at every age: expert talks on intriguing topics
Adults also get their share of science. For example, in the lecture by environmental scientist Emily Strange, who talks about green invaders. Why are some plants not welcome here and how can we control them? Medicine scientist Thomas Hankemeier talks about how environmental factors such as smoking, air pollution and diet can affect our health. Can we reduce our risk of disease by living healthier? And how creative is artificial intelligence? Computer scientist Maarten Lamers talks about the limits of computer creativity.
Backstage in the world of groundbreaking science
What does it take behind the scenes to make groundbreaking discoveries? That is what visitors find out ‘backstage’ at the Science Experience Tours. You can visit places that normally remain closed to the public. There are tours along the vibration-free measurement hall and the largest - and literally coolest - electron microscopes in the Netherlands.
The Fine Mechanical Department and the Electronic Department are the places to go for scientists with all their technical questions and requests. The state-of-the-art computers and machines impress the visitors. Luca (aged 3) gets to mill a large bolt himself by pressing a green button. There is a lot of noise and water and plastic is splashing in all directions: ‘Luckily there is a window in front of it, otherwise, I would be all wet now!’
Decorated faces and a metre-long colouring sheet
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A metre-long colouring sheet and face painting team De Toverkist fill the Family Day with colour -
A metre-long colouring sheet and face painting team De Toverkist fill the Family Day with colour -
A metre-long colouring sheet and face painting team De Toverkist fill the Family Day with colour -
A metre-long colouring sheet and face painting team De Toverkist fill the Family Day with colour -
A metre-long colouring sheet and face painting team De Toverkist fill the Family Day with colour -
A metre-long colouring sheet and face painting team De Toverkist fill the Family Day with colour
Packed goodie bags and unforgettable experiences
Those who are lucky manage to get a spot in the mobile planetarium. Together with an astronomy student, you can travel among the stars: visiting Mars, the Milky Way and even all the way back to the Big Bang.
With a head full of knowledge and a bag full of ( self-made) goodies, everyone returns home. For this visitor, a little later than planned: ‘The whole family enjoyed it. We were actually planning to stay only a few hours, but it ended up being the whole day. It was amazing!’
Watch the aftermovie here!
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