Nano to Touch Out of the ivory tower and into the public arena, in a museum

1. Nano toTouchOut of the ivory tower and into the public arena, in a museum Fiorenzo Galli Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia Leonardo da VinciMilanowww.museoscienza.org Erice International School of Science Journalism and Communication – 03 August 2012

2. Nano To Touch Nanosciences Live in Science Centres and Museums • Aims • creating innovative spaces where to communicate NT • enable visitors to interact with researchers in two way dialogue • allow the public to experience live day-to-day practices and processes • of nano-research, allowing for public understanding and engagement • admit the public to a discourse over ethical issues and societal implications • of nanotechnology • train the researchers to communicate with lay publics Erice International School of Science Journalism and Communication – 03 August 2012

3. Nano To Touch • supported by the EU Seventh Framework Programme • research spaces created in six science centres and museums • partner science centres-museums joined forces with nearby universities • coordinated by the Deutsches Museum, Munich • two formats of research area • Open Nano Labs_Munich (DE), Gothenburg (SV), Milan (IT) • Nano Researcher Live programmes_ Mechelen (BE), Naples (IT), • Tartu (ET) Erice International School of Science Journalism and Communication – 03 August 2012

4. Nano To Touch_ Milan_Open Nano Lab Collaboration between National Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo da Vinci - MUST The Interdisciplinary Centre for Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces – CIMaINa Erice International School of Science Journalism and Communication – 03 August 2012

5. Nano To Touch_MUST_Nanotechnology Area CIMAINA researchers in the Museum study: 1_the electrochemical and transport properties of cluster-assembled electrodes for technological applications in supercapacitors and photo-electrochemical cells. 2_properties of some nanostructured materials such as titanium dioxide and carbon, determining which electrochemical reactions occur on their surface and how these processes are influenced by light. These nanomaterials can be applied in different devices: for example in photovoltaic cells for producing electricity from sunlight, in supercapacitors that store electrical energy or in cells for the production or exploitation of hydrogen. Erice International School of Science Journalism and Communication – 03 August 2012

6. Nano To Touch_MUST_Nanotechnology Area How nano are you? Measure how tall you are in centimetres and nanometers. The smallest atom is hydrogen, measuring 0.1 nanometers (nm). The DNA has a diameter of 2 nm and a length of 2 meters. A virus measures approximately 100 nm and a cell around 50,000. Erice International School of Science Journalism and Communication – 03 August 2012

7. Nano To Touch_Milan NANO CHANGES THINGS Bottles particles of silver and distilled water: micro and nano sized NANOSTRUCTURES IN NATURE  Butterfly wings: Morpho Menelaus andUrania Riphaeus. NANOSTRUCTURES USED BY MAN - WITHOUT KNOWING Ceramic produced by a particular glaze known as lustro Deruta, Renaissance. NANOSTRUCTURES USED BY MAN - WITH AWARENESS 1980s IBM – 20 Megabytes. Today - 750 Gigabytes 40,000 times more information. Erice International School of Science Journalism and Communication – 03 August 2012

8. Nano To Touch_risks and benefits A matter of risks and benefits "The development of nanotechnology and the dissemination of nanostructured materials raises questions about potential risks and impacts on the health of workers, consumers and on the environment. Transparency, accountability and sustainability principles must be taken into account by research and development, so that the benefits for society are balanced against the potential risks. “ Legambiente: Development of nanotechnology: opportunities and precautions Position Paper, April 27th 2009 Interviews: Paolo Milani – Cimaina and Gianluigi Forloni - Legambiente Erice International School of Science Journalism and Communication – 03 August 2012

9. Nano To Touch_Milan NANO CHANGES THINGS Bottles particles of silver and distilled water: micro and nano sized NANOSTRUCTURES IN NATURE  Butterfly wings: Morpho Menelaus andUrania Riphaeus. NANOSTRUCTURES USED BY MAN - WITHOUT KNOWING Ceramic produced by a particular glaze known as lustro Deruta, Renaissance. NANOSTRUCTURES USED BY MAN - WITH AWARENESS 1980s IBM hard disk - 20 Megabytes. Today a 750 Gigabytes 40,000 times more information. Erice International School of Science Journalism and Communication – 03 August 2012

10. Nano To Touch Interactive exhibit planes powered by solar panels made with two different types of cells: silicon and Grätzel. Visitors can compare: cost, efficiency, surface Teather: Nano show properties of nanostructured materials Educational activities museum explainer activities: properties of nanostructured materials researchers dialogue: their research Teachers training Erice International School of Science Journalism and Communication – 03 August 2012

11. Nano To Touch Visitors great interest toward NT very broad questions: applications? Risks? Benefits? Researchers More focused on their specific research Not used to answer broad questions Problems Timing – week end Change the perspective and the language Is the museum the agora where researchers can dialogue with non experts? Are researchers the best communicators with non experts? Can communication with non experts influence positively the research conduct in the labs? Erice International School of Science Journalism and Communication – 03 August 2012