The young physicists run into the classroom and make a bee-line for a canister
of liquid nitrogen.
“No pushing or shoving because this stuff is -200 C,” Sarah Swenson commands.
Swenson, co-ordinator of the Physics Outreach Program in the Dept. of Physics
and Astronomy, orders her charges to put on their protective gloves and stand
back while she pours the frigid liquid into a bowl of ice cream ingredients. As
Swenson pulls away from the frothing concoction, eager helpers dive in with
wooden spoons and begin stirring the brew.
“They just can’t get enough science,” says a smiling Swenson.
Throughout the month of July, Swenson and colleagues from the Dept. of Physics
have been directing week-long physics camps for children in grades 3 to 8.
Optics, electricity, magnetism, flight and sound are among the topics they
investigate. They make simple circuits, musical instruments, see how lasers
operate, launch rockets and learn about thermal physics by making ice cream.
“You name it, we do it,” says Swenson, who directed the dozen or so
participants in each of the four physics camps. “We even make slime.”
Physics Prof. Chris Waltham, who set up the Physics Outreach Program, marvels
at the energy and inquisitiveness of the youngsters. He says the big hits were
visits to research labs and talks by theoretical physicists.
“It’s quite incredible really,” Waltham remarks. “I’ve never seen anybody grill
research scientists or graduate students like these kids do.”
Physics Outreach can be reached at 822-9107 or
www.physics.ubc.ca/~outreach/home.html
