Regional Travelling Exhibitions

As part of an Inspiring Australia grant, our Regional Travelling Exhibitions are taking place all over Australia, bringing information about Chemistry to local libraries for all the public to see and learn. Research and applications undertaken and developed in Australia are showcased as part of these exhibitions. One of Inspiring Australia’s goals is to target people who may not have had interest in or access to science engagement activities in the past, and we hope to contribute to this with our exhibitions.

Eat, Drink and Chemistry - VIC

This exhibition looks at how chemistry is the critical science behind the development of functional foods that have both health-promoting and disease-preventing properties, as well as being tasty and nutritious. Some of the topics by this exhibition include:

Food packaging that takes itself away
See how an Australian company developed technology so corn starch can be shaped into biodegradable packaging sheets for chocolates and biscuits.

Nothing fishy about omega-3
Found to be important for brain development, see where omega-3 comes from and the technology behind fortifying foods with this important supplement.

Wholegrains and better barley
Australian cereal chemistry research is now in what you eat.

Water features
With water security being a major concern, see the chemistry behind the technologies used to purify this limited resource.

Cybernose® to sniff out Australia’s top wines
An instrument that mimics the human sense of smell will help Australian winemakers keep a nose ahead of their overseas competitors.

For further information on the VIC travelling exhibition please contact Caroline at raci-vic@raci.org.au or call (03) 9328 2808.

Healthy Chemistry - QLD

This exhibition shows how being healthy is a matter of good chemistry. A large part of staying well involves maintaining the balance of chemicals your body transforms, uses and then loses in everyday life. Some of the topics by this exhibition include:

Butterfly inspires a treatment
Folic acid was originally found in butterflies. Now, a new compound from folic acid is an affective cancer treatment against mesothelioma.

A cancer cure that’s just for you
Chemical research has developed drugs that target particular genes.

Nanotoxicology
Better nano-safe than mega-sorry.

Cholesterol and fats
Healthy food is the best medicine.

For further information on the QLD travelling exhibition please contact Ruth at qld-raci@raci.org.au or call (07) 3420 4223.

Chemistry and the Nucleus - WA

This exhibition looks at the ultimate nuclear family and how their half-lives are part of our lives. Some of the topics covered by this exhibition include:

Revealing the inner you
Nuclear medicine uses radiation to diagnose and treat a wide range of illnesses.

Send in the neutrons
Neutrons offer unique and versatile ways to study materials.

A date with a radioactive clock
“How old is this?” is often a critically important question. The radioactivity in materials can be used as a clock to find the answer.

OPAL – a gem of Australian Science
Australia has one of the world’s most versatile and efficient nuclear research reactors.

For further information on the WA travelling exhibition please contact Ben at wabranch@raci.org.au or call 0403 022 968.

Material Futures - NSW/ACT

This exhibition looks at how rising demand drives research into making more things but with less energy and resources. A product hungry world relies on more chemists to get material. Colour, shape and substance give form to our material surroundings. Yet the seemingly insubstantial, invisible, and ephemeral are also parts of the material realm. Chemists work with the full range of matter as they manipulate frameworks of atoms and molecules to fashion new materials and devise improvements to old favourites.

For further information on the NSW/ACT travelling exhibition please contact Lindy at raci-nsw@raci.org.au or call (02) 9663 4960.

Nature’s Chemical Diversity - SA

This exhibition shows how the natural world is a tapestry of known, new and yet to be discovered families of compounds with useful properties. Some of the topics by this exhibition include:

Natural product extraction
Biodiversity brings chemical diversity and opportunities for health and wealth.

Nature’s starting points
How many traditional medicines and products work, and how do we make them now?

Bauxite ore and emu droppings
Bauxite processing, mine rehabilitation and the role emus play in germination.

Venomous path to painkillers
Pain killing medications from cone shell venom.

For further information on the SA travelling exhibition please contact the National Office on member@raci.org.au or call (03) 9328 2033.