The Electrochemical Circus

The Electrochemical Circus is a collection of portable, hands-on activities designed to demonstrate key concepts relating to electrodeposition of new materials. Topics covered by the electrochemical circus include: electrochemistry, nanomaterials, materials physics, electronics engineering, and nanofabrication. The Electrochemical Circus is available as a classroom workshop for Key Stages 3-5. In addition, elements of the Electrochemical Circus will be on display at major public engagement activities at the Universities of Southampton, Nottingham and Warwick, and nationally - see our twitter feed for current details.

Activities currently available as part of the electrochemical circus include:

• Gold fingerprinting: how would you like your own personal gold-plated fingerprint? Learn how gold is electroplated from solution, and take home a souvenir of your own fingerprint in gold plate
• Electroless plating of pennies: can you turn copper coins into 'silver' and 'gold'? Empty you pockets and we will show you how...
• Fruit batteries: can you make a battery out of a lemon? What about an orange? How many do you need to power an LED? This workshop provides the answers to all this and more
• Red cabbage indicator redox reactions: just how does red cabbage compare to other indicators we use in the lab? What happens if you pass a current through it? This workshop is an introduction to redox reactions, and what is really happening at the electrodes.
• Fuel cell demo: would you like to know how a fuel cell works?
• The suitcase of curiosities: a collection of items that are both visually and texturally appealing and relevant to ADEPT research, providing ’hooks’ for conversations.

All activities have been chosen to help make science more approachable and hands-on for scientists and non-scientists alike, to give insight into the life of a scientist, and the skills that scientists use every day.