The UQ Science Demo Troupe is a group of students spreading enthusiasm for science.
We meet regularly to practise our science demonstrations and to come up with new, more exciting ones.
We frequently visit schools to run science activities and present lecture demonstrations for various undergraduate subjects at The University of Queensland.
The UQ Science Demo Troupe's main mediums for communicating science are through demonstration shows, which are highly entertaining, engaging and educating, and hands-on workshops, which allow participants to do some of the science for themselves.
Both activities are designed to give a better understanding of how the world works.
The aims of the UQ Science Demo Troupe include:
- cultivate a greater interest and understanding of science within the public
- increase the desire of students to pursue further science education in high school and university
- work with primary school and high school science departments to visit schools and present demonstrations based on course material that would otherwise be unavailable to the students.
The UQ Science Demo Troupe has many activities for students that are both entertaining and educational.
The activities are arranged in one of 2 formats:
- science demonstration shows give a highly entertaining presentation of all the wonderful and wacky things science has to offer; demo shows are for audiences of all sizes and ages (we have performed for entire schools)
- science workshops are highly interactive and give the students an opportunity to get hands-on and do some of the science for themselves; workshops are limited to groups of no more than 30 and are best for grades 4 and above.
Much of the content in the demo shows and workshops is portable, and as such you need not come to us as we can come to you!
If you're interested in booking the UQ Science Demo Troupe please contact us: demotroupe@uq.edu.au
Note: we do ask for a small fee for any services we provide to pay for things like administration, petrol, consumables, new demonstration equipment (which can be quite expensive) and other costs.
Regional and remote schools
The UQ Science Demo Troupe realises that there is a need for science outreach in regional and remote places. To service this need, several times a year the demo troupe takes science on the road and spends a day (or 2) at various schools across Queensland and parts of Australia.
The demo troupe seeks external funding for these trips so that remote schools pay the same as those based in Brisbane.
The UQ Science Demo Troupe has science demonstrations and workshops that cover many topics:
Air
Whether we realise it or not, we're always under pressure - air pressure! To highlight this, the UQ Science Demo Troupe has plenty of demonstrations that show the different ways air pressure can act and how strong it can be.
In addition, we also demonstrate other forms of pressure, which includes the infamous bed of nails.
Electromagnetism
Electromagnetism is one of the 4 fundamental forces of the universe and is something we humans rely heavily on. With electricity flowing through most walls and appliances, and magnets being found not just on the fridge but also in radios, computers and cars, electric and magnetic fields are everywhere.
Understanding these invisible forces, and the phenomena they produce, is made easy with demonstrations of induction currents, magnetic braking and Eddy currents.
The UQ Science Demo Troupe can even make lightening with a giant Tesla coil.
Fire
Whether used for heating, cooking or providing light, fire has been invaluable to humans.
From how things burn to how flames behave, fire is certainly intriguing and, with the ability to make explosions, very exciting.
The UQ Science Demo Troupe explains the science behind fire through a wide range of demonstrations which include making fireballs and flame tornados.
Light
The UQ Science Demo Troupe can shed some light on light!
With its dual wave/particle nature, light can produce many interesting phenomena, such as diffraction patterns.
Using polarisers, diffraction gratings, optical fibres, lasers, slinkies and even plastic forks, all the science of light can be seen.
Liquid nitrogen
Everyone likes to see what is cool and exciting, and there is nothing cooler than liquid nitrogen, literally! At 196 degrees below freezing, liquid nitrogen is probably the coldest thing you're ever going to see in your lifetime.
The UQ Science Demo Troupe has many demonstrations that highlight the weird and wacky science that happens at low temperatures, which include superconductors, explosions, rockets and loud noises.
If you're lucky, you may even be able to eat something that's almost 200 degrees below zero!
Materials science
Materials science is enabling an incredibly vast array of new technologies - from cameras to food packaging, nappies to cars, cameras to bullet proof vests. With the increasing prevalence of nanotechnology, chances are that any everyday item you can name has had some materials science involved in its development.
The UQ Science Demo Troupe has a wide range of experiments demonstrating the science of materials and how their properties can be tailor made for specific applications.
We can even show how it is possible to run on water!
Mathematics
Maths is everywhere. Whether it's making money on the stock market, rescuing people tied to railroad tracks or collecting donations to save an endangered unicorn you can bet there's maths involved.
During our maths workshops we demonstrate how mathematics impacts every aspect of our lives and teach some of the maths behind cryptography, winning the lotto, knot theory and even juggling, just to name a few.
Sound
The properties of waves is further demonstrated using sound. Whether it is making metal rods sing, hollow pipes roar or just making big bangs, the UQ Science Demo Troupe is very experienced at making noise.
We like to share the science behind sounds waves, and the phenomena it produces, using everything from magnets to blow torches!
Other
In addition to the topics listed above the UQ Science Demo Troupe has many more demonstrations spanning a wide range of sciences.
Topics include: gyroscopes, chemical reactions, circus physics and vortices, just to name a few.
We are always willing to develop new content. If there are particular demonstrations you would like to see the UQ Science Demo Troupe perform, contact us and we can see what can be arranged: demotroupe@uq.edu.au
The UQ Science Demo Troupe accepts any UQ student who is enthusiastic about science.
Over the years we've had members ranging from 1st year undergraduates to postgraduate students, from a wide variety of backgrounds, including physics, maths, biology, chemistry, commerce, information technology and law, just to name a few!
We teach you how to (safely) perform all of our demonstrations, basic science communication skills, and how you can eventually become a casual UQ staff member as a UQ Science Demo Troupe Demonstrator for participating in and delivering on our outreach events.
We have weekly training sessions in Room 223 in Parnell (Building 7) on UQ's St Lucia campus, with extra sessions during busy times.
If you're interested in joining the UQ Science Demo Troupe, please download and complete this Application Form (PDF, 77.9 KB) and email it to demotroupe@uq.edu.au