The Franklin Institute, named in honor of Benjamin Franklin, is a nationally renowned science museum located in downtown Philadelphia. Students, faculty, and staff in the MRSEC have been working with the staff of The Franklin Institute to design innov ative new educational resources. 20 copies of each kit have been fabricated and distributed to science museums nationwide. MRSEC researchers present the demonstrations at many outreach events and educational activities throughout the year.
Each kit includes a set of interactive activities to be presented by a docent. Each 5-10 minute demonstration emphasizes a specific scientific concept, principle, or property. Visitors are engaged by relating these concepts to examples observed in daily life. Macroscopic models illustrate and explain the phenomena occurring within materials at the micro-, nano-, or atomic-scales.
