Energy Explorers: November 2024 Edition

Energy Explorer Racheal Rieberger sets up her demonstration at TELUS World of Science - Edmonton

Earlier this month, a new group of Energy Explorers made their debut at TELUS World of Science - Edmonton. These 14 University of Alberta graduate students are researching everything from bacteria-killing viruses to microplastics, but they all gathered on November 10 with one shared purpose—bringing science out of the lab and into the world! 

Future Energy Systems launched our Energy Explorers program in the fall of 2022. This intensive science communication course targets master’s and doctoral students working on FES-funded projects. Each participant spends 20 hours learning to communicate their research to a non-academic audience. Explorers also spend that time designing and constructing interactive, child-friendly demonstrations to help explain. 

Thanks in part to dreary weather, the science centre lobby was packed full of families, over 1,800 people throughout the day. Both kids and adults were drawn to the colourful displays created by our Explorers—master’s student Nina Deschner had scarcely finished setting up when a gaggle of children approached her table.

“Have you ever heard of DNA?” When the kids shook their heads, Nina pulled out a flip book full of cats.

“DNA is what makes this cat have brown fur, while this cat has orange fur," she explained. "It’s also why you all have blue eyes, and I have brown eyes!” She stepped aside, gesturing to the bin full of LEGO at her table. “Do you all want to build some DNA?”

No kid can resist a LEGO challenge. Each constructed their own little creation, placed it into a transparent container, and watched in awe as Nina surreptitiously toggled the lights so that their LEGO DNA changed colour inside the container. 

A few tables away, a boy was enthusiastically operating what looked like a bicycle pump taped to the ground; the pump was connected to a container which, combined with the air pressure, pushed dirty water through a filter to produce a trickle of clean water. Amirhossein Taghipour explained the science behind the filter while his lab partner, Bamlak Setegne, encouraged another child to shake a giant model filter with all his strength. 

Our largest-ever Energy Explorers event was a spectacular success, giving our new Explorers the confidence to share their research with the public and inspire the next generation of scientists. 

Take a look at some photos of the event below.

Energy Explorers November 2024