Science & Technology for All
On March 17th, we joind the event "Encouraging Tohoku-based people with science! @Ishinomaki", organized by NPO from Yamagata university.
Twenty seven demonstrations from sixteen groups were performed at three public space in Aeon shopping center.Slime demonstrations, lightning wrist band,
balanced-dragonfly, robot arms- we saw many fascinating demonstrations.
So crowded all day, with elementary school students and kindergarden kids with their parents.They were visiting from booth to booth, taking goods they got and with happy smile. So impressed.
We demonstrated how to prepare motor using coil, magnet, and battery.
First, put two magnet on both sides of paper cup so as to attracting each other, and affix two supports made of paper clips in order to locate coil to the center of
the paper cup.
Then twist a copper wire to make a coil, and remove enamel coat on the ends (completely one side, half the other side).
Put the coil on the clip supports and connect the circuit to battery. The coil will start rotating in the magnetic field!
Removing enamel coat seemed to be a bit difficult for small kids. But when the coil started rotating, kids started smiling, and we also became happy to see them.So impressive for us, too.
Our booth was crowded more than we we expected and the materials were almost running out. What did they think when the coil started rotating by invisible electricity and magnetic field? How they took their impression with them? How they told it to their family? We wonder each time we look back at their smile.
At first people in Ishinomaki seemed to get back their daily lives from the disaster, but they are actually still facing to huge pile of rubble.
After the event, we visited hill-side park. Saw that the downtown just inside of beautiful and calm ocean was completely swiped. Peple here have to live each day with this scenery and restration- we are wondering how we can be with them, living far a way from them.Wishing continuous supports be given by many people, even tiny but hearty ones.
Our demonstration of motor is just a small experience for them. But if it could lead to their sense of accomplishment, or could be a motivation to have their own dream or confidence, we will keep doing our demonstrations and lectures.Science and Technology for All would like to deliver science programs to make kids and students smile.
We may see you next time!
<From a guest staff>
These two years I have been thinking about telling the fun of electronic engineering to kids. I checked web sites to see if any such volunteer groups nearby, and found "Kagaku no hana-saku Project" (Blooming Science Project). I visited their office in Yamagata in Februay, 2012. They told me that they were going to hold this event in Ishinomaki on Mar 17th, so I applied for it on that day. It was going to be my first time and I was a bit wondering if I could really make it.
On the day of the event, all the staff welcomed me as a close friend, so I felt relaxed and joined their demonstration immediately. The motor could rotate soon
after assembling, or we had to struggle with sandpaper, depending on how well we removed enamel coating from the wire (coil of motor). When it started rotating, I clapped my hands
involuntarily and said "Good! We've done!." Kids were also started smiling. My words might be actually for myself as well, as I was relieved to see its rotation after struggling with
the kids for their sandpaper work. After then I asked the kids how they felt. Lots of kids said "Great fun!" with full smiles.
I have my personal experience of assembling radio, mini-amplifier, line-tracer, sensor-light, etc by myself. When talking to the kids, I was wondering if my words were easy enough to be understood for them, or how can I attract their interest more. I got some ideas to be improved for the next, but at the same time, I got very happy to see the kids delighted. Before this event I wanted to "teach electronic engineering to kids." Now I wish to "share impressive experience with kids through the experiments of electronic engineering." I am thinking about having electronics classes for kids to share the impressive experience.
I deeply thank "Yamagata Kagaku no hana-saku Project" for hosting this event, "Science and Technology for All" for letting me join their exhibition, and many kids I met on that day.
Thank you so much.
by Murakami, engineer, 58 yrs old
