ANDREA JOSEPH
drug delivery engineer focused on preterm birth and neonatal brain injury
Science and engineering can be learned at all ages!
Science outreach is some of the most rewarding work I do. It's a privilege to engage with the next generation of innovators, discoverers, and builders! Scroll down for some kid-friendly science demos I really enjoyed.
Resources for graduate students:
UW ChemE specific:
Polymer Worms/
Polymer Caviar
Materials:
5g calcium chloride
Water
2g sodium alginate
(Optional: 250 mL fruit juice)
Syringe or eye dropper
Instructions:
1. Dissolve calcium salt in 1 L water.
2. Mix alginate into 250 mL water (or juice, for the edible version).
3. Using a syringe or dropper, add alginate solution dropwise into calcium bath.
4. Let caviar rest in the bath for a few minutes to gel before eating.
Nano Film Bookmarks
Materials:
Construction paper, cut into strips
Sharpie
Clear nail polish
Water
Instructions:
1. Decorate the strip of paper however you like.
2. Place the paper into the water bath and carefully add one drop of nail polish into the container.
3. Pull out the paper. Let dry before using as a bookmark!
Coin Stack Battery
Materials:
Pennies and nickels
1 Tbsp salt mixed with 1/4 cup vinegar
2cm x 8 cm strip of aluminum foil, folded into thirds
Paper towels cut into small squares
Digital multimeter
Instructions:
1. Place a first penny at the end of the aluminum strip.
2. Soak a paper towel square in the vinegar solution and add it on top of the penny.
3. Put a nickel on top.
4. Continue layering batteries (penny, paper towel, nickel).
5. To measure the voltage of your battery, touch the multimeter to the end of the aluminum foil and the topmost nickel.
Magnetic Nanoparticles at Home
Materials:
Printer toner
Cooking oil
50% cleaning alcohol
Test tubes
Neodynium magnets
Instructions:
1. Mix toner into a small amount of oil until a thick consistency is reached.
2. Transfer a few drops of ferrofluid mixture into a test tube of cleaning alcohol.
3. Control the movement of the ferrofluid with a magnet outside the tube!
