At the JINR Museum

Experiments, calculations, reports

The JINR Museum of History of Science and Technology has become the organizer of the scientific and practical Conference for schoolchildren "Mendeleev Readings" for the 9th time. Being an annual educational event for curious children, the current readings were held in the anniversary year of the 155th anniversary of D.I.Mendeleev's Periodic Law.

D.I.Mendeleev, his service to science, his versatile genius, his achievements in various scientific fields are called upon to become an example for those who want to choose science and technology as their profession, to take the path of knowledge. More than 10 years ago, the initiators of the readings set the task: to give schoolchildren that are interested in various scientific phenomena the opportunity to talk about them in a bright, intelligible and exciting way, to expand their horizons, stimulate curiosity, instill in them a taste for scientific research. The taste that was characteristic of Dmitry Mendeleev since childhood.

The readings opened with a lecture by Director of the JINR Museum A.E.Zlotnikova "The amazing periodic table". A multi-layered and multi-colored world of substances appeared before the young listeners. We all live in a three-dimensional world filled with substances, they surround us, they are inside us, their reactions delight us and sometimes terrify us - but all the diversity of this world has as its foundation... a two-dimensional table with eight lines. This is chemistry. And this is Mendeleev!

This year, the readings were held in two stages, 13 interesting reports were made, the age of the participants was from 8 to 15 years! As always, the children had to work hard, preparing reports on chemistry, biology, paleontology, physics, mathematics, astronomy and to independently carry out a series of labor-intensive experiments and calculations. Here are the topics of the reports: "Cat food", "Coffee - harm or benefit", "Qualitative water analysis", "Paws", "Investigation of the spectral composition of white light", "Curse of the pharaohs: legend or scientific fact", "Mathematical tricks" , "Bear really loves honey", "How much sugar is in honey and drinks", "Madagascars are my pets", "Hydrogel for plants - everything you need to know", "Search for a planet for human life" and "Nanotechnology of the Proterozoic era" . Quite wide coverage. All reports are richly illustrated, including photographs, drawings and diagrams of the authors themselves. They aroused keen interest from the young audience and the speakers were asked many questions. This is how a thoughtful attitude towards the world around us is fostered.

One of the speakers was fascinated by the technical idea of a hydraulic manipulator. Using inexpensive, readily available materials and selecting a liquid mixture of optimal viscosity, he produced an elegant working model of a hydraulic manipulator based on his own drawings. Another participant analyzed data about the planets of the solar system, concluded that life on Mars was possible and even presented a model of what a colony of settlers might look like in his report. One of the speeches was dedicated to coffee. After analyzing biological and biochemical data, the results of a survey and a series of experiments, the speaker came to the conclusion: the opinion that has been circulating for the last 30 years about the categorical dangers of coffee is wrong. Honey received two reports at once. Using a refractometer, microscope and available tools, the speakers carried out a thorough analysis of several honey samples. Their conclusion: Honey should be taken in reasonable doses. At the same time, you need to know: not all honey is honey... But the topic "Madagascars are my pets" is dedicated to large viviparous cockroaches from the island of Madagascar. The speaker has been successfully acclimatizing them under our harsh skies for three years.

A highlight of the current "Mendeleev Readings" was a chemical show called "Pokhimichim" implemented by an employee of the Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics Konstantin Khramko. This was a chain of experiments with the transformation of substances well known to all of us that under the influence of skillful hands suddenly begin to change their color or even their state of aggregation. The children were so delighted that they excitedly rushed to assist the host. A real holiday of knowledge!

The readings ended with an intellectual brain-ring session "Inventions that changed the world". Many of the inventions around us have become so firmly established in our lives that it is no longer easy for us to imagine how humanity managed without bicycle tires, scissors, paper... By answering questions from the brain ring, the children and their parents not only intensified their knowledge, but also showed considerable intelligence.

All speakers of the "Mendeleev Readings" were awarded diplomas and memorable prizes from JINR.

Kirill KOZUBSKY,
photo by Igor LAPENKO, Elena RUSAKOVA