Troy, N.Y. – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has been awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to expand its Molecularium project and take it to a global audience. The animated program is designed to spark children's interest in learning about atoms and molecules using planetariums in a new way for science education.

The Molecularium project is part of the educational and outreach program of Rensselaer's NSF-funded Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center (NSEC) for Directed Assembly of Nanostructures. Rensselaer's NSEC is directed by Richard Siegel, the Robert W. Hunt Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Rensselaer.

Rensselaer will use the $659,291 NSF grant to produce two 20-minute multimedia shows intended to captivate students in grades K-3 while exploring the states of matter — solid, liquid, and gas – and the inner workings of a living cell. The Molecularium show is designed to be projected on a dome planetarium theater, but instead of taking people from earth to space, the show will take viewers on an audio-visual journey through the molecular-scale world.

"We want to excite children about the world of science, and the Molecularium program is a tremendous tool to ignite their curiosity," said Shirley Ann Jackson, president of Rensselaer. "Our pilot Molecularium program was well received, and the National Science Foundation's additional support enables us to dramatically enhance our initial concept and take it nationwide."

"We are pioneering the use of dome theaters for molecular science education and have brought together a team of researchers, artists, museum curators and educators, technology designers, elementary school teachers, students, and professors to reach our goal," said Linda Schadler, professor of materials science and engineering at Rensselaer and executive producer of the Molecularium project. "We are designing the shows to be available to planetariums large and small all across the country and around the world."

A portion of the NSF grant will be used to develop a high-tech dome projection system. Rensselaer scientists are working in conjunction with Vidvox, an interactive digital video company located in Troy, N.Y., to develop the software for the project and assemble the system, which will be housed in the Lally Digistar II Planetarium in Troy's Junior Museum.

"We are proud to be the future home of this state-of-the-art projection system," said Jayne Architzel, executive director of the Junior Museum. "In addition to showcasing Rensselaer's Molecularium project, the new system has the ability to project input from a range of educational media sources. As a result, we will be able to develop an array of new programming possibilities for our visitors."

Rensselaer faculty and students will develop the scientific content for each Molecularium show and create computer simulations to translate molecular models into animations. Rensselaer has hired Vishwanath (Owen) Bush of Tektraxadex to produce and direct the shows. A staff of graphic artists and animators from around the country is being hired to help bring atoms and molecules to life on screen. Teachers and students from the Troy Public Schools will also participate in the development of the shows by providing commentary during production.

"The technology we are using to coordinate talents both on and off campus is an exciting story on its own, but we didn't stop there," said Shekhar Garde, assistant professor of chemical engineering. "By merging technology with art, education, and community, we are developing a teaching tool that explores molecular science in a way that can be understood and enjoyed by people of all ages."

According to Schadler, the first show, Riding Snowflakes, is designed to bring to life atoms and molecules as characters that can bond together in order to make all the materials in the universe. The storyline will explain that everything is made of atoms and molecules and that the mobility and structure of gases, liquids, and solids are distinctly different. The audience will be introduced to hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon as they explore materials of all kinds while traveling in a ship that can span length scales from light years to nanometers, as well as move in both space and time. The characters will visit clouds, raindrops, the ocean, and space and will be transformed from gases to liquids to solids.

The Molecularium began in 2002 as a pilot project showcasing a seven-minute program designed by Rensselaer's Center for Directed Assembly of Nanostructures in collaboration with the Junior Museum of Troy and supported with funds from the National Science Foundation's Nanoscale Science and Engineering Initiative. Rensselaer's Center for Directed Assembly of Nanostructures is one of only six NSF Nanoscale Science and Engineering Centers in the United States.

Contact: Mary Cimo
Phone: (518) 687-7174
E-mail: cimom@rpi.edu