Soft Matter at Doors Open Day

The soft matter physics group part of the Institute for Condensed Matter and Complex Systems took part in Doors Open Day, Edinburgh on 26th of September in the James Clerk Maxwell Building.

Eighteen researchers from the group showed demonstration experiments and guided visitors around the group’s laboratories. During the day 340 visitors made slime, punched corn starch and learned about the physics of bacteria. Researchers also chatted to lots of people visiting the department as part of the UCAS open day.

The demonstration experiments highlighted properties of non-Newtonian fluids whilst an interactive exhibition with microscopes and computer simulations allowed visitors to explore the groups’ research into active matter. In the labs visitors were able to see the rheometers (mechanical testing devices) and microscopes used to study these complex systems.