2DMoT CDT at the Universally Manchester Festival

Earlier this Summer, students from the 2DMoT CDT were part of a team representing 2D materials at Manchester at the Universally Manchester Festival. This one-day event welcomed members of the local community to come and learn about the work that goes on at the University through a series of exhibitions and interactive activities for all ages. This was the 3rd edition of the festival showcasing how the university is working towards a greener, healthier and fairer world. Here students Patrick Knowles and Harriet Stoner reflect on the event. 

We had a stand in the Nancy Rothwell building outlining what 2D materials are, how we make them and where they can be used in future technology. Our aim was to make cutting-edge materials science accessible and fun for families and young people who may never have encountered nanomaterials before. 

Some of our most eye-catching items included our giant pencil and a graphene enforced crash helmet. One of our most popular activities gave children the opportunity to exfoliate graphite using adhesive tape, recreating the famous technique that led to the isolation of graphene. After viewing their samples under a microscope the children were able to take their graphene home! Visitors enjoyed learning how a material as seemingly ordinary as the graphite found in pencils can be peeled into sheets only a single atom thick.

Over the course of the day, we spoke to hundreds of visitors about the potential applications of graphene and 2D materials, including use in advanced electronics and sustainable technologies. The curiosity and enthusiasm shown by the children and adults alike highlighted the value of public engagement activities in helping researchers share their work beyond academia. 

The Universally Manchester Festival gave us the opportunity to develop our skills in communication and public engagement with a lay audience. Hopefully we inspired the next generation of material scientists!

Thank you to the University for hosting the event and to everyone who came to visit our stand. Seeing so much excitement for science reinforced the importance of outreach within the CDT, and we look forward to engaging with even more communities in the future.