News Release 05-019
Presenting the Molecularium
A new show from the Rensselaer nanotech center lets kids explore the world of atoms and molecules
February 9, 2005
This material is available primarily for archival purposes. Telephone numbers or other contact information may be out of date; please see current contact information at media contacts.
Traditional planetarium shows take us on a virtual tour of stars, planets and galaxies: the outer universe. But recently, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute premiered its new Molecularium show, a state-of-the-art, computer-generated animation that takes its viewers on a virtual tour of the inner universe—the atoms and molecules that constitute our world.
Developed for children in grades K-3, and designed for a planetarium setting, the 20-minute show follows Oxy, Hydro, Hydra and Carbón—a cast of characters based on atoms—as they explore this inner universe. Their atomic-scale views of phenomena such as the melting of ice are based on real molecular dynamics calculations.
The Molecularium project, which was developed under a special grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), is part of the educational and outreach program of Rensselaer’s NSF-funded Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center for Directed Assembly of Nanostructures.
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Media Contacts
Mary Cimo, RPI, (518) 276-6098, email: cimom@rpi.edu
M. Mitchell Waldrop, NSF, (703) 292-8070, email: mwaldrop@nsf.gov
Program Contacts
David L. Nelson, NSF, (703) 292-4932, email: dnelson@nsf.gov
Principal Investigators
Shekhar Garde, RPI, (518) 276-6048, email: gardes@rpi.edu
Linda Schadler, RPI, (518) 276-2022, email: schadl@rpi.edu
Richard W. Siegel, RPI, (518) 276-8846, email: rwsiegel@rpi.edu
Related Websites
The Molecularium Web site: http://www.molecularium.rpi.edu/
RPI Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center: http://www.rpi.edu/dept/nsec/
Rensselaer Research Quarterly article on the Molecularium: http://www.rpi.edu/research/magazine/summer04/molecularium_1.html
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