Similar to former years, we offered a colourful programme for our guests. They could explore Focus, our interactive visitor space, and get acquainted with the experimental hall in the framework of guided tours. Participation in the tour was granted to those who could solve a puzzle. This time, our lecture series included four talks. The first presenter was Szabolcs Hack, who revealed the mysteries of the quantum tunnelling effect. Zsuzsanna Márton highlighted the wonders of the nanoworld, while Zsolt Divéki spoke about the dual nature of light. Our Science Director, Katalin Varjú, gave a presentation with the title ELI ALPS, lasers, attosecond pulses and light-related Nobel Prizes.
Our colleagues demonstrated the operation of the multipass amplifier, the high field laser, as well as the spectrum of light sources. Those interested could observe ultrafast processes and electromagnetic interactions, hold components in their hands, and take a virtual tour of the laboratories at ELI ALPS. Visitors could also play laser chess, engage in a quantum hunt, gamble in a quantum casino, and watch chilling experiments with liquid nitrogen.
Nitrogen gas must be cooled to at least –196 °C to turn into liquid form. A lettuce leaf, placed in liquid nitrogen for a moment, froze hard, and was crushed into small pieces by our colleague Levente Ábrók wearing thick protective gloves. A balloon sprayed with liquid nitrogen first shrank, then regained its original shape when it was no longer cooled. In the next experiment, the light emitted by light bulbs changed when the bulbs were submerged in liquid nitrogen. Our audience was impressed by these experiments, but how did our physicist enjoy himself this evening? “With a fellow researcher I once discussed the difference between other people and us. Is it perhaps that we have not lost the childhood sense of wonder? On occasions like this, we try to foster this awareness with natural sciences in the focus. We provide both experience and knowledge, because it is important for everyone to understand how nature works. It is also essential that we rekindle curiosity in adults. From the sparkle in their eyes and their interactions, I feel that we always succeed in doing so,” summarized Levente Ábrók adding that there are plenty of videos on YouTube and other social media platforms showing spectacular experiments with liquid nitrogen. However, the impact is completely different in real life. For Levente, these experiments trigger a feel of awe every single time. The icing on the cake is if you receive thought-provoking questions at the end of the presentation. The difficulty lies in assessing the questioner’s prior knowledge. The answer should not require deep physical knowledge, but it should not be superficial either.
Norbert Ócsai, a year 13 student at the Szeged-based Waldorf School, returned after participating in our summer camp this year. Having worked as a lighting technician at SZIN, the Szeged Youth Days, he wanted to gain a better understanding of light phenomena and a deeper insight into the work at our research institute. He joined the event in the hope of further exciting lectures and fascinating experiments. “I did not feel a bit of disappointment. I heard lots of interesting things again,” said Norbert, who would like to study physics at the University of Szeged.
His friend from the summer camp, Rihárd Börcsök, is in the special mathematics class of the Szeged Radnóti Miklós Experimental Grammar School. The year 11 student signed up for our week-long summer camp and Researchers’ Night event because the school curriculum on light is narrower than he would expect. He has now experienced that he can obtain deeper knowledge on this subject at our institute. Richard’s vision is dominated by physics and computer science, and he is attracted to the engineering side of physics.
Attila Antal from Szeged arrived at our event with his wife and two primary school children. It was the family’s first visit to our institute. Among the many exciting programme elements, they were particularly impressed by the laboratory tour, the lasers, and the animations demonstrating the path of laser light. Overall, they found the evening rich in experiences. The father revealed that the children, who are interested in science, want to work in a super place when they grow up, one like our institute. “My wife and I decided to bring them here to look around. We told them that if they study hard, they could work in a super place like this,” the father noted as he said goodbye.
According to our Science Director, acquiring and sharing knowledge go hand in hand. She enjoys both processes. When nearly 400 people show up for the Researchers’ Night event, it is a wonderful opportunity to share our exciting discoveries with an even wider audience. The promotion of scientific knowledge is also our mission, because people hold many misconceptions which can only be removed by spreading knowledge.
Unfortunately, fewer and fewer young people are choosing careers in science. According to Katalin Varjú, we can change this trend by showing the beauty of science to as young an audience as possible. That is why we encourage parents and grandparents to bring along even their younger children and let them marvel at scientific phenomena years before they start learning physics in a school setting. Children can be enchanted by the beauty of science, and we would like adults to join these events and help convey these experiences to their children and grandchildren.
Eighty percent of those who registered for the event had never visited our institute before. We do hope that they will keep coming back to our events along those who have already experienced the wonders of physics with us on several occasions. With a constantly expanding range of programmes, we aim to spark and maintain interest in physics, which we research with great dedication and enthusiasm.
Photos: Zsolt Dobóczky