Outreach Kits for Summer 2020
July 3, 2020 -- Outreach Kits Update 3 - Ready for Delivery
The Fluorescence kits are finally ready!
We want to thank everyone for showing interest in the kits and patiently waiting while we prepared all the materials. We hope that you will enjoy the experiments and learn some cool facts about fluorescence and light.
To receive the kits, please fill out the fluorescence kit delivery form. We are planning to deliver the kits for those who request them, and we are also looking at offering a pick-up option from a location in Goleta. Please note your preference for delivery and/or pick-up in the form. We will email you when we know if the pick-up option is available; otherwise, we will let you know when the kits have been delivered to you.
We want to thank everyone for showing interest in the kits and patiently waiting while we prepared all the materials. We hope that you will enjoy the experiments and learn some cool facts about fluorescence and light.
To receive the kits, please fill out the fluorescence kit delivery form. We are planning to deliver the kits for those who request them, and we are also looking at offering a pick-up option from a location in Goleta. Please note your preference for delivery and/or pick-up in the form. We will email you when we know if the pick-up option is available; otherwise, we will let you know when the kits have been delivered to you.
What to Expect in Your Kits!
With the items in the picture you will be able to make a simple ultraviolet flashlight, a fluorescent olive oil "lava lamp", a fluorescent turmeric solution, and some bonus glow-in-the-dark stars!
You also get the materials to make glow-in-the-dark paint for creating art like in the picture below.
If you lose the included papers, they are all attached below. Feel free to print more copies or use them as a guide to make your own kits!
With the items in the picture you will be able to make a simple ultraviolet flashlight, a fluorescent olive oil "lava lamp", a fluorescent turmeric solution, and some bonus glow-in-the-dark stars!
You also get the materials to make glow-in-the-dark paint for creating art like in the picture below.
If you lose the included papers, they are all attached below. Feel free to print more copies or use them as a guide to make your own kits!
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Optional Donation to Help Fund More Activities
We had a great time putting together these kits for everyone. If you enjoy the kit and would like to support the Photonics Society at UCSB, the Photonics Soc. Treasurer - Michael Nickerson created this site where you can donate: https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/8kRsG0buAY
We had a great time putting together these kits for everyone. If you enjoy the kit and would like to support the Photonics Society at UCSB, the Photonics Soc. Treasurer - Michael Nickerson created this site where you can donate: https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/8kRsG0buAY
Featured Fluorescence - Fluorite and other Minerals
Geology and fluorescence often go together to create natural beauty. The word "fluorescence" was coined by George Stokes in the 1850s after observing the blue emissions from fluorite under UV light. While fluorite is the origin of the word fluorescence, there are many other minerals that fluoresce under UV light- aragonite, apatite, calcite, zircon, hyalite, and many others!
For some beautiful pictures of fluorescent minerals check out:
https://www.naturesrainbows.com/
For more details about fluorescent minerals:
https://geology.com/articles/fluorescent-minerals/
For a brief video about fluorescent minerals:
Ask a Scientist - Why do Some Minerals Glow?
Geology and fluorescence often go together to create natural beauty. The word "fluorescence" was coined by George Stokes in the 1850s after observing the blue emissions from fluorite under UV light. While fluorite is the origin of the word fluorescence, there are many other minerals that fluoresce under UV light- aragonite, apatite, calcite, zircon, hyalite, and many others!
For some beautiful pictures of fluorescent minerals check out:
https://www.naturesrainbows.com/
For more details about fluorescent minerals:
https://geology.com/articles/fluorescent-minerals/
For a brief video about fluorescent minerals:
Ask a Scientist - Why do Some Minerals Glow?
Extra Optics Content!
Photonics Word Search #2!
If your looking for a fun puzzle and a quick way to learn some new words related to photonics, then you should check out this week's word search!
https://thewordsearch.com/puzzle/1268821/fluorescence-word-search/
Photonics Education from OSA
If you didn't check it out in our last email, OSA also has a great website (http://www.optics4kids.org) with activities and lessons about optics. You can also find more OSA Outreach resources at https://www.osa.org/en-us/get_involved/education_outreach/.
Photonics Word Search #2!
If your looking for a fun puzzle and a quick way to learn some new words related to photonics, then you should check out this week's word search!
https://thewordsearch.com/puzzle/1268821/fluorescence-word-search/
Photonics Education from OSA
If you didn't check it out in our last email, OSA also has a great website (http://www.optics4kids.org) with activities and lessons about optics. You can also find more OSA Outreach resources at https://www.osa.org/en-us/get_involved/education_outreach/.
June 5, 2020 -- Outreach Kits Update 2 - Preparing and Testing!
Fluorescence outreach kits coming soon!
School is out and summer has arrived for many of you! You can catch more rays from the sun outside, and "see things in a different light" with the UV LEDs in our outreach kits.
Our team has been working to bring you a photonics-inspired activity on fluorescence, and the kits will be ready soon! You’ll set up your own ultraviolet LED and make a fluorescent "lava lamp." Our team is happy to answer any questions you may have – you can email president@ips.ece.ucsb.edu or find us on Facebook and send us a message.
For teachers and organizers - Please let us know if you’re planning an activity through a specific group or organization and we can work with you to create a version of the activity best suited for your needs. If you’re a teacher, educator, or otherwise have the capacity and desire to help us distribute these outreach kits, let us know!
School is out and summer has arrived for many of you! You can catch more rays from the sun outside, and "see things in a different light" with the UV LEDs in our outreach kits.
Our team has been working to bring you a photonics-inspired activity on fluorescence, and the kits will be ready soon! You’ll set up your own ultraviolet LED and make a fluorescent "lava lamp." Our team is happy to answer any questions you may have – you can email president@ips.ece.ucsb.edu or find us on Facebook and send us a message.
For teachers and organizers - Please let us know if you’re planning an activity through a specific group or organization and we can work with you to create a version of the activity best suited for your needs. If you’re a teacher, educator, or otherwise have the capacity and desire to help us distribute these outreach kits, let us know!
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Outreach Kit Sneak Peak! With the items in the picture you will be able to make a simple ultraviolet flashlight, a fluorescent olive oil "lava lamp", and a fluorescent turmeric solution. You also get some bonus glow in the dark stars! |
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Featured Fluorescence - Brown Spots on Bananas
For our "Featured Fluorescence," we have brown spots on bananas! You know that your bananas are ripe when they turn yellow with little brown spots, but did you know the brown spots glow under UV light? You can read more about banana fluorescence at
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081020093454.htm
Bananas might have these glowing rings to help attract animals to eat the banana and spread the seeds! Birds and other animals can see UV light, so the banana might look very different to them than what you can see. You can read more about UV bird vision at https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/50/10/854/233996
For our "Featured Fluorescence," we have brown spots on bananas! You know that your bananas are ripe when they turn yellow with little brown spots, but did you know the brown spots glow under UV light? You can read more about banana fluorescence at
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081020093454.htm
Bananas might have these glowing rings to help attract animals to eat the banana and spread the seeds! Birds and other animals can see UV light, so the banana might look very different to them than what you can see. You can read more about UV bird vision at https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/50/10/854/233996
Extra Optics Content!
If you didn't check it out in our last email, OSA also has a great website (http://www.optics4kids.org) with activities and lessons about optics. You can also find more OSA Outreach resources at https://www.osa.org/en-us/get_involved/education_outreach/.
Photonics Word Search!
If your looking for a fun puzzle and a quick way to learn some new words related to photonics, then you should check out our word search!
https://thewordsearch.com/puzzle/1221150/
If you didn't check it out in our last email, OSA also has a great website (http://www.optics4kids.org) with activities and lessons about optics. You can also find more OSA Outreach resources at https://www.osa.org/en-us/get_involved/education_outreach/.
Photonics Word Search!
If your looking for a fun puzzle and a quick way to learn some new words related to photonics, then you should check out our word search!
https://thewordsearch.com/puzzle/1221150/
May 21, 2020 -- Welcome to the Outreach Kits Group!
Welcome everyone to the Outreach Kits Group! We had a very successful first week of sign-ups! The message was spread far and wide thanks to Dorothy (Dotti) Pak from UCSB MRL and Wendy Ibsen from CSEP.
We are receiving some materials for the kits this week to test them out and figure out exactly what will go in each kit. In meantime, we have a short video from the Photonics Society President, Caroline Reilly, talking about our chapter and showing off some fluorescent liquids.
We are receiving some materials for the kits this week to test them out and figure out exactly what will go in each kit. In meantime, we have a short video from the Photonics Society President, Caroline Reilly, talking about our chapter and showing off some fluorescent liquids.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_brightener
Featured Fluorescence - Optical Brighteners in Laundry Detergent
To show off the wide variety of fluorescent objects, we will have a
"Featured Fluorescence" with each update. This time we have Laundry Detergent with "Optical Brighteners." Some laundry detergents contain compounds that glow bright blue when exposed to UV light. They will appear brighter than normal in the sun because they will emit extra blue light from the sun's UV rays! This can also make clothes appear "whiter" because of additive color mixing.
To show off the wide variety of fluorescent objects, we will have a
"Featured Fluorescence" with each update. This time we have Laundry Detergent with "Optical Brighteners." Some laundry detergents contain compounds that glow bright blue when exposed to UV light. They will appear brighter than normal in the sun because they will emit extra blue light from the sun's UV rays! This can also make clothes appear "whiter" because of additive color mixing.
Extra Optics Content
To get started early with some optics activities, OSA also has a great website (http://www.optics4kids.org) with activities and lessons about optics that you can check out. You can also find more OSA Outreach resources at https://www.osa.org/en-us/get_involved/education_outreach/. This Friday, they are hosting an virtual activity session about reflecting light. You can register using the link below.
Optics Magic with Judy & Nancy: REFLECTING ON LIGHT
Explore Optics for Kids
Looking for something to do with the kids while inside? Want to sneak in a little physics and fun into their daily routine? Check out the Optics for Kids website for interactive experiments and activities for all ages! Activities are broken up by age groups and provide detailed directions and materials lists as well as an easy to understand explanation of the activity. READ MORE
To get started early with some optics activities, OSA also has a great website (http://www.optics4kids.org) with activities and lessons about optics that you can check out. You can also find more OSA Outreach resources at https://www.osa.org/en-us/get_involved/education_outreach/. This Friday, they are hosting an virtual activity session about reflecting light. You can register using the link below.
Optics Magic with Judy & Nancy: REFLECTING ON LIGHT
Explore Optics for Kids
Looking for something to do with the kids while inside? Want to sneak in a little physics and fun into their daily routine? Check out the Optics for Kids website for interactive experiments and activities for all ages! Activities are broken up by age groups and provide detailed directions and materials lists as well as an easy to understand explanation of the activity. READ MORE
May 8, 2020 -- Having Fun with Photonics at Home!
Since everyone is spending more time at home, we wanted to share our exciting outreach activities by sending them in kits through the mail. We are planning to send out a few rounds of kits during the summer for both our Fluorescence and Lasercomm activities. We are putting together the kits with materials and instructions included to make it easy for everyone!
For everyone interested in receiving outreach kits in the mail, we will be sending an email with more information about our first kit based on our Fluorescence experiment. We are currently working on the "kit" version of the activity to make sure everyone has a great experience.
In the meantime, we will share kit updates along with other fun photonics activities, videos, and news in update emails. We will also post our updates on this web page. Stay tuned!
For everyone interested in receiving outreach kits in the mail, we will be sending an email with more information about our first kit based on our Fluorescence experiment. We are currently working on the "kit" version of the activity to make sure everyone has a great experience.
In the meantime, we will share kit updates along with other fun photonics activities, videos, and news in update emails. We will also post our updates on this web page. Stay tuned!
