Life inspired materials – explore the future of materials science

Activity: Talk or presentation types › Public talk to non-academic audience (public outreach)

Description

The Night of Science Helsinki is an annual event aimed at promoting science and research, organized by the Finnish Learned Societies. This year, LIBER participated with an interactive exhibit showcasing the future of life-inspired materials to the public.

Approximately 100 participants attended the workshop hosted by LIBER. They had the opportunity to pull their own lab-grown spider silk fibers, test the strength of protein glue inspired by mussels and barnacles, compare natural hydrophobic surfaces with artificially prepared ones, and create flows and patterns using out-of-equilibrium systems. Additionally, attendees learned about dyes and colors, crafted their own paper viruses, and explored self-assembly and protein folding through hands-on activities, including using a self-assembling virus model and the Fold.it computer game, which teaches about protein structure and folding.

The event materials were provided in Finnish, Swedish, and English. Participants came from various age groups and backgrounds, including families and university students.
Period9 Jan 2025
Event titleThe Night of Science
Event typeOther
LocationHelsinki, FinlandShow on map
Degree of RecognitionLocal

Documents & Links

Related content