Rensselaer premiered its Molecularium™ show, Riding Snowflakes, a state-of-the-art computer-generated animation for digital dome theaters, at the Children’s Museum of Science and Technology in North Greenbush Feb. 4. The show was accompanied by hands-on activities developed by Rensselaer faculty, museum staff, and area educators to enhance and further develop the concepts emphasized in the Molecularium.

Designed to spark the interest of young children in the atoms and molecules that make up the world, the Molecularium project is supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

“Today we are breaking new ground in science education,” said President Shirley Ann Jackson. “Blending the arts, science, computation, and engineering, Rensselaer researchers working with professional artists and area educators have created a magical science experience. We want to excite children about the world of science, and the Molecularium program is a tremendous tool to ignite their curiosity.”

The Rensselaer-led team has produced a 20-minute show intended to captivate students in grades K-3 while exploring the states of matter — solid, liquid, and gas. Designed to be projected in a planetarium theater setting, the show takes viewers on an audio-visual journey through the molecular-scale world.

The Molecularium is part of the educational and outreach program of Rensselaer’s NSF-funded Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center (NSEC) for Directed Assembly of Nanostructures. The project was conceived and led by Linda Schadler, professor of materials science and engineering, and education and outreach coordinator. She, Shekhar Garde, associate professor of chemical and biological engineering, and Richard Siegel, the Robert W. Hunt Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, are executive producers of the show.“Rensselaer’s NSEC has made significant contributions toward the development of new tools for discovery and innovative educational opportunities,” said David Nelson, Division of Materials Research, NSF. “The Molecularium is a novel example of Rensselaer’s success in integrating science and research with educational outreach.”

Originally published in Rensselaer Magazine, Spring 2005
Photo by Stanley Blanchard

Published April 1, 2005