The 21st century is at the beginning of a scientific revolution that will alter the world as radically as the industrial revolution of the 19th century. Whereas the latter rested on the control and engineering of macroscopic objects the new revolution will require the understanding and control of the nanoworld. Controlling nanocomponents lies at the heart of, for example, the clean harnessing of solar energy, the development of smart materials, and the realisation of entirely new concepts in computing. Thus, nanoscience and nanotechnology are buzzwords that are as rife on the academic campus as they are in industrial research laboratories. However, research in nanoscience and nanotechnology has been accompanied by public concerns and much debate has ensued. This debate is necessary and important but it has all but drowned out the sheer excitement, adventure and creativity of probing, understanding and, ultimately, controlling the nanoworld. This project will create an exhibition and public dialogue events that will introduce some of the most interesting and important concepts that drive the nanoworld to the public in a highly accessible and attractive way.

Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.

The 21st century is at the beginning of a scientific revolution that will alter the world as radically as the industrial revolution of the 19th century. Whereas the latter rested on the control and engineering of macroscopic objects the new revolution will require the understanding and control of the nanoworld. Controlling nanocomponents lies at the heart of, for example, the clean harnessing of solar energy, the development of smart materials, and the realisation of entirely new concepts in computing. Thus, nanoscience and nanotechnology are buzzwords that are as rife on the academic campus as they are in industrial research laboratories. However, research in nanoscience and nanotechnology has been accompanied by public concerns and much debate has ensued. This debate is necessary and important but it has all but drowned out the sheer excitement, adventure and creativity of probing, understanding and, ultimately, controlling the nanoworld. This project will create an exhibition and public dialogue events that will introduce some of the most interesting and important concepts that drive the nanoworld to the public in a highly accessible and attractive way.

The project is concerned with the development and delivery of a Meet the Scientist event at the Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester. The focus of the event will be Energy Materials, i.e. the critical role developments in mew materials have in delivering a sustainable energy future. More specifically the role hydrogen could play in a future energy scenario will be presented with discussion of future hydrogen generation (using renewable energy, nuclear), hydrogen storage (both in mobile applications and stationary applications) and conversion to electricity using fuel cells. The event will be centred around the development of a number of interactive demonstration facilities to demonstrate all three facets of a hydrogen economy (generation, storage and conversion). An electrolysis facility will be developed to demonstrate efficiency of the process as a function of eg. temperature and electrode materials. Demonstration facilities associated with the solid state storage of hydrogen through visual changes to materials observed in the absorption and desorption of hydrogen will be developed. Finally, standard, fuel cell components will be used to demonstrate conversion back to electricity. A theme to the event will be that scientists need to develop new and improved materials in order facilitate technological breakthroughs in all three areas. The event will be developed around these demonstration facilities , in collaboration with the museum, to be accessible to a general family audience.The demonstration facilities will also be designed in such a way that they can be used in science busking and school visits by museum education staff. The possibility of finally incorporating the demonstration facilities into a permanent display at the museum will be investigated.

Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.