Arduino tutorial organized by Young Minds Section Aveiro

Posted on 22/05/202022/05/2020 by Richard Zeltner

The Young Minds Section in Aveiro has organized a seminar on Arduino programming. Photo credit: YM Section Aveiro

This February the Young Minds Section of Aveiro has organized and hosted a course on Arduino programming. It was held by two local students of the Electronic, Telecommunication and Informatic Department (DETI) of the University of Aveiro. In four sessions, each 2 hours long, the participants were introduced in several topics concerning the electronic prototyping platform Arduino. The course attracted nineteen participants from different departments, and each of them received a kit with electronic components, necessary to learn and develop the Arduino projects proposed by the teachers. At the end of the course, each participant could keep the kit to themselves and continue to learn and test the new knowledge acquired. The course can be certainly considered a success, as it did not only enhance the knowledge of the participants, but also strengthened the connection of the Aveiro sections to other organizations from University of Aveiro.

Open Readings 2018

Posted on 17/07/2018 by YM Webmaster

This year “Open Readings 2018” gathered above 306 presenters from more than 13 different countries: Norway, Sweden, Germany, Poland, Austria, Latvia, Serbia, Belarus, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Romania and Russia. Participants presented 11 different topics from Astrophysics and Computational Physics to Optoelectronics, Materials Science, Biomedicine, Chemistry, Nanoengineering etc.. Important statistics of participants: 96 Bachelor students, 97 Master students, 93 PhD students and 6 Postdocs. Through 4 days of the conference audience has listened to 56 oral presentations and watched over 250 poster presentations. This year we had equal ratio between female and male students. “Open Readings” invited 8 incredible lecturers from the World’s Top Scientists (USA, United Kingdom, Denmark, Belgium, Austria, Lithuania): Richard Brice Hoover – internationally known authority from NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center, Andrea Alù – inventor of novel waveguides, scattering devices and a cloaked sensor device (University of Texas at Austin), Peter Uhd Jepsen – leading scientist in the Terahertz Technologies & Biophotonics research group, Julija Krupič – developed a fascination with the way the brain maps the environment (University of Cambridge, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience), Rasuolė Lukošė – is developing new sensing possibilities in graphene, Andrius Baltuška – alongside two colleagues, shared a world record for creating the shortest blip of light in history. They produced a flash of light lasting only 4.5 femtoseconds (0.000 000 000 000 004 5 seconds), Roel Baets – has led major cooperative research initiatives in silicon photonics in Europe, Audrius Alkauskas – works with point defects in 2D materials for quantum technologies.

“Open Readings 2018” took place from March 20-23rd, in the largest scientific research institution in Lithuania Center for Physical Sciences and Technology. It is the most advanced base for physical and chemical sciences, technology not only in Lithuania but in all Baltic States. It is currently headquartered in a state of the art four-stories building of 27 thousand square meters. Here not only the innovative science but also high technologies expedient for business and society needs are developed. European Physical Society Young Minds Section of Vilnius (EPS YM Vilnius) has contributed to organization of this conference. During the conference “11th Lithuanian Π day championship”, which gathered one hundred of students and University workers, was organized. This year Lithuania Guinness record was broken once again – Andrius Gegužis memorized 10 003 decimal places of Pi (He is 1st in Europe). Winner was writing over 15 hours! EPS YM Vilnius was invited to give an interview for mass media and national television. Lithuanian community has heard about our section. We hope to continue this tradition! Further science popularization is needed.

Section Starting

Posted on 16/07/201811/10/2019 by YM Webmaster

The Young Minds section of the University of Liège was created recently (May 2018). During the past months, our group has organized a “get-to-know-us” presentation for physics and space science students (masters, PhD and post-docs). It sparked great interest for the Young Minds activity in the Liège physics community. The objective was also to brainstorm ideas of activities to be organized for the upcoming academic year 2018-2019. This meeting, along with three other group reunions over two weeks, lead us to the idea of a networking event under the theme “Physics and Sport” (see the corresponding document for more details), during which we will test activities we plan using to create an outreach event destined to high school students. It also allowed us to gather motivated PhD students with experience in science outreach event (sci-fi movies analyses, broad audience communication, …) and effectively reinforce the initial team. We have also made contact with a local organization specialized in the field of science popularization at the University of Liège (“Réjouiscience” – http://rejouisciences.uliege.be) and they showed enthusiasm in collaborating with us in the organization of physics outreach events. We committed to participating in the next edition of their “Printemps des Sciences”, a yearly, high-impact science fair week for schools and general public in the Liège area. Members of our team are also dedicating their time to the construction of a website (www.ymliege.uliege.be) and a Facebook page (“YMLiège”) for more visibility. We created a public mail address: youngminds@uliege.be.

Our group takes the opportunity to be part of the Young Minds network very seriously, and we think we are off to a great start. We hope that the aforementioned activities testifiy our motivation for holding physics-related events and for growing the Young Minds network.

Film screening “Kwantumrevolutie”

Posted on 16/07/2018 by YM Webmaster

In our latest event we held a screening of the Flemish documentary Kwantumrevolutie (Quantum Revolution). This documentary narrates the chronological discoveries concerning quantum mechanics, like Thomas Young’s double-slit experiment and Albert Einstein’s Photoelectric effect. The director of this documentary has a Master degree in both the Audiovisual Arts and Physics, which makes him the ideal person to narrate this topic. Since the physics behind all of these surprising experiments is explained clearly and shown intuitively, this movie forms a great introduction to quantum mechanics for those who are not yet familiar with its basic concepts. Moreover, the way these experiments are portrayed in a historical context also makes the documentary enjoyable for scientists who are more well-versed on this subject.

The documentary also focuses on the important role Belgium played in solving these quantum conundrums. The Belgian industrialist Ernest Solvay founded The International Solvay Institutes for Physics and Chemistry and facilitated the famous Solvay Conferences. During these conferences the issue with quanta, atoms, electrons and more, were thoroughly discussed by leading international scientists. The documentary narrates the story of the members of the first conferences and their important findings which have led to the quantum theory as we know it today. Not only does this documentary quench the thirst for historical and scientific knowledge, it also provides a prime example of how interdisciplinary and international collaborations can lead to a brilliant outcome.

In summary, this meticulous portrayal of the history and physical consequences of the quantum theory is an absolute must-see for anyone with an interest in modern physics, and we are proud to have reached a quite international and diverse public made up of members from the whole Science faculty with our screening.

Colloquium “From emergent gravity to the dark universe” by Prof. Erik Verlinde

Posted on 16/07/2018 by YM Webmaster

On the 15th of February 2018, the Antwerp Young Minds section invited Professor Doctor Erik Verlinde to give a colloquium at the University of Antwerp about his work on the theoretical framework of emergent gravity. The main target audience were the students and researchers of the University of Antwerp physics department.

Professor dr. Erik Verlinde is a professor at the University of Amsterdam. His research focuses on the theoretical study of string theory, black holes and cosmology. In 2009, he introduced a theory of entropic gravity (also known as “emergent gravity”) which links the existence of gravity to quantum information theory. In 2011, he received the Spinoza price, one of the most prestigious awards available to Dutch scientists, for his various achievements and contributions to the field of cosmology.

In his talk, professor Verlinde explained that, while observed deviations from Newton’s laws or Einstein’s general relativity are commonly attributed to the presence of dark matter, these deviations can also be due to a change in the way gravity works in these circumstances. He then talked about a new theoretical framework in which gravity emerges from concepts of quantum information theory and discussed several applications of this approach. The colloquium as a whole was a great occasion for students to learn more about dark matter and the cosmological study of gravity, while at the same time providing the researchers of our department with more fundamental insights about professor Verlinde’s theory.

The lecture was followed by a reception, where the audience members and speaker could enjoy a drink and a bite. This also presented our students and researchers with the opportunity to speak with professor Verlinde in an informal setting.

Altogether, the colloquium was a great way for our university’s physics department to start off the second semester of the academic year.

Colloquium “Surprises in the self-assembly of particles” by Prof. Alfons van Blaaderen

Posted on 16/07/2018 by YM Webmaster

On the 13th of December 2017, the Antwerp Young Minds section invited Professor Doctor Alfons van Blaaderen to give a colloquium at the University of Antwerp about his work on the self-assembly of nanoparticles. The main target audience were the students and researchers of the University of Antwerp physics department.

Professor dr. Alfons van Blaaderen is a professor at Utrecht University and the chair of the Soft Condensed Matter group of this university. His research focuses on the study of colloidal model systems and their self-assembly, in order to create, study and develop more advanced materials with special properties. Prof. van Blaaderen developed various new methods to manipulate the self-assembly of colloidal particles and was a pioneer in quantitative 3D real-space microscopic analysis of colloidal systems. In 2011, he was awarded the Peter Debye Prize by the Edmond Hustinx Foundation.

In his talk, professor van Blaaderen explained how self-assembly is a powerful way to create 3D colloidal crystals of metal or semiconductor nanoparticles, and showed us how this method can be used to tailor the properties of the resulting material. He first focused on self-assembly of particles into a spherical confinement, and then talked about how these results could be extended to particles with more complex shapes. The colloquium as a whole was a great occasion for students to be introduced to the field and applications of nanoparticles, while at the same time providing the researchers of our department with more profound insights about professor van Blaaderen’s experimental work.

The colloquium received a good deal of positive comments and feedback from the students and researchers who attended it.

Let’s make fun with science: colors and soap bubbles

Posted on 16/07/2018 by YM Webmaster

The EPS Young Mind Section of Rome was very productive in 2017 with the “Let’s make fun with science: Sun, light and colored shadows” project, aimed at discovering the concepts of light and colors through different experiments. This project has been partially founded by the 2017 Activity Grant and has been described in the last January 2018 Report.
In the first months of 2018, we ideally carried on this journey through the project “Let’s make fun with science: colors and soap bubbles”. In fact, even if apparently they are very simple, soap bubbles are the realization of many physical phenomena all together. First of all, their shape allows to explore the concept of surface tension of liquids. But even more, the colors appearing and disappearing on their surface force to wonder about the nature of light and colors. In particular, a deep understanding of how soap bubbles work requires the knowledge of many concepts related to waves, such as the Sun spectrum, the frequency, the wavelenght, but also interference and diffraction. For this reason, soap bubbles can be used at different levels: to create a fun activity for kids, to make physics students wonder about optics and Sun spectrum, and to give high school teachers a way through which they can explain interference to their students. The EPS Young Minds Section of Rome have tried to develop each of this ways.

We began with kids. During the event “Eyes on the Moon”, hosted by the Physics Department of Roma Tre University on February 23th, we used buckets, dishwashing liquid and straws in order to give children the opportunity to create their own soap bobbles of different sizes and shapes. With older people, including high school students, we organized afteroon activities adding a more detailed explanation of what happens in a soap film drawing optical waves on cardstocks, and using simple spectrometers to show the Sun spectrum. Moreover, with a more selected public, such as high school teachers or adults, we tried to explain what happens with a soap film on a can. In fact, if you try to make a soap film on one side of a can, and try to arrange it vertically, you will see that strips of different color will form. Their colors will alternanate, providing a great way to see, in practice, destructive and constructive interferences of waves.
At the end, the “Let’s make fun with science: colors and soap bubbles” project had more than 300 participants between primary, secondary schools students teachers and general public.

Encouraging networking among undergraduate students

Posted on 16/07/2018 by YM Webmaster

At the beginning of 2018 we felt that we could try to expand the EPS Yound Minds Section of Rome with new members. The “Let’s make room for science” and “Let’s make fun with science” projects – partially founded by the 2017 Activity Grant – were fun and effective for the general public, but they also succeeded in creating interest toward the Section, especially among physics students of Roma Tre University, in Rome. For this reason, we organized at the Mathematics and Physics Department of the University of Roma Tre an opening event, during which the older members of the Section showed the activities we carried out these years. We started by advertising the event through the students’ Facebook pages and the University bulletin boards. Then, the day of the event, we placed some of the exhibits developed by the Section in the astronomical garden of the Mathematics and Physics Department of the University of Roma Tre, the AstroGarden.

In particular, we used the space-time exhibit, which easily attracted the attention of those present simulating the curvature of space-time using a trampoline and different masses. The thermal imager was also used, in order to show the concept of temperature and transformation of energy: even if Physics students should be used to such concept, seeing the thermal footprint they left on a table always creates wonder! Moreover, one of the professors of the Department has lent us some of his experiments concerning electromagnetism, together with solenoids and magnets.
In less than an hour, a fairly large group of people was talking about science, but not only: we talked about the University life, its problems, and all the different activities that could be developed in the near future to help students to create network, and not feel alone. At this point, the president of the Section, Adriana, showed some slides to explain the activities of the Section, inviting everyone to join it. Then, she officially opened the buffet: sandwiches, pizzas and beverages for everyone! And of course, the event could not end without a cake!

The opening event took place in June 2018, and it had more than 20 participants. We plan to organize more events during the year, especially when the University courses will start again. In the meantime, we have already welcomed two new members of the Section!

Atoms about atoms

Posted on 16/07/2018 by YM Webmaster

According to our activity grant we have awarded 490 Euro for visiting 3 villages, organizing summer school, quizzes and building test devices.
We would like to note that because of the Velvet Revolution during March-May in Armenia and not calm situation in our country our plans have changed and we could not complete all of the activities reported in our grant request. Two school visits we will be finished within upcoming months.
However, we have organized the following activities in Armenia:
1. Summer School in Tumanyan village (25.06.2018-30.06.2018 Tumanyan, Lori province): We have organized activities about several topics: mechanical waves, optics, electromagnetic waves. During the classes children had opportunity to get basic knowledge and ask a lot of questions from real life. High school students were from 8th and 9th classes. And we have tried to cover all questions asked by them during the school with experiments prepared in advance.
2. Paper, plastic and glass is not a waste (9 events in Yerevan, Gyumri, Vanadzor, Ashtarak): We have teamed up with “Eco Waste” project and organized cleanups and collected more than 5300 kilograms of paper and 100 kilograms of plastic bottles and sent them to recycling as in Armenia there are huge problems concerning these issues: not all people are well educated and don’t sort trash.

All these events were conducted with a quiz, where our members approached participants and tested the basic knowledge in Physics and Astronomy. Winners got stickers and get acquainted with Yerevan Young Minds activities.
3. We have visited the Byurakan village (40 km far from Yerevan) for demonstrating simple experiments for 8 year old children from Byurakan village. Experiments were simple but the questions were very interesting for us.
Besides outreach event, with SPIE Yerevan chapters, we have involved in organizing committee of 5th International Advanced School on Frontiers in Optics & Photonics, 22-27 June, 2018.
Furthermore, we have awarded for the May Awesome Idea from The Awesome Foundation. Idea was to build equipment for schools with a help of students, which don’t have any practical experience because of universities. We have collaborated with Teach for Armenia and will choose schools located in the most remote parts of our country to visit and to give scientific tool kits consisting of equipment necessary for demonstrations of basic experiments from the textbooks.

We have established official Facebook page, called Yerevan Young Minds and it is already more than 400 followers and our group Science and Innovation has around 200 members. Due to social media we have received lots of invitations for visiting schools. So, we are almost succeeding in our mission to build a strong platform for answering Physics related questions.

School for Young Physicists

Posted on 16/07/2018 by YM Webmaster

One more year for SYP has finished, and the upward trajectory for student interest has steadily held up. In the beginning of the year, we reported record numbers of attendance, and that continued throughout the entire season.

In addition to crowd-pleasing topics we looked at in the first semester, the second semester featured sessions on constructional physics, electronics, solid state physics, food physics and, finally, chaos theory. Highlights from these sessions include building model houses and testing them against shaking to imitate an earthquake and even advanced lectures in chaos theory and solid state physics that touched on master’s level physics, and yet students enjoyed them immensely.

The 3rd School Cup competition also came to a close, and it was essentially a photo-finish. Teams battled for points until the final session, and the winning team beat out their rivals only by one point – to give perspective, the total point count for the winning team was about 300 points. Teams from various schools showed their mettle all year, performing well on tests as well as showing ability in the four creative extra tasks that were given to them. The best teams were also awarded prizes for their hard work.

Additionally to the main sessions, regional sessions in cities were also still held – more than ever. Cities of Valmiera, Ventspils, Rezekne and Liepaja saw numerous sessions take place – and Rezekne even had 7 sessions, which is only two less than in our capital!

All in all, the 8th season of SYP was a resounding success, and we will look to keep building on this success to increase our output and outreach even more, allowing more students to see that physics education can be fun indeed!

This year, our Young Minds section participated in the first ever physics festival in Latvia – an event solely for the popularization of physics and science for the public. Almost all groups that do physics outreach were gathered in the same venue – which means our team was also their. Multiple experiment workshops were set up, and a competition for middle-schoolers also took place. The event was a success, as the amount of visitors from the general public attending went up to a few thousand.

The event was well covered – it garnered enough attention for some TV and radio coverage. Feedback from the public was very positive, and that means this will be no one hit wonder – another festival for physics is in the works for next year, and our section will certainly attend next year as well.