Science and experiments

Locations

At the moment, there is no location available for science and experiments. We’re working to make this possible again soon. Keep an eye on the website or get in touch for the latest status.

Science and experiments covers controlled observation, measurement and practical investigation. It can involve substances, materials, light, heat, electricity, microscopic structures or the preparation of ingredients used in technical and creative work.

The capability is not an umbrella for every project that uses scientific knowledge. Its focus is the experiment or investigative process itself: asking a question, changing or preparing something under controlled conditions and observing the result. Select a location to see its local form.

Observe, separate, prepare and compare

Microscopy and close observation

A stereo microscope can support inspection of surfaces, fibres, small mechanisms, crystals or repair details. A compound microscope can make biological or prepared samples visible at a different scale.

Dissolving, filtering and distilling

Substances can be dissolved, separated or purified to understand a mixture or prepare material for another process. Temperature, solvent choice and contamination matter.

Materials and ingredients

Experiments may involve resins, cleaning processes, pigments, metal salts, castings or substances used in glass painting and other creative applications.

Light, energy and physical effects

Small solar panels, coloured flames, spectra, rainbows, heat and other visible effects can make physical and chemical principles tangible.

An experiment needs a question and a boundary

Change one thing deliberately

A useful experiment identifies what is being changed, what is being observed and which conditions should remain comparable. Notes, photographs and simple measurements make the result easier to interpret and repeat.

Demonstrations can also be valuable when the purpose is to make a phenomenon visible. A coloured flame, hydrogen generation, a rainbow made with water droplets or a small solar-panel test can prompt questions even when the setup is not formal research.

Scale and substances matter. An experiment that is suitable as a small controlled demonstration may be unsuitable at a larger quantity, higher concentration or different temperature.

Where this capability meets other areas

Using a microscope to inspect a solder joint remains primarily Electronics when the purpose is circuit repair. Inspecting crystals, fibres or biological samples is more directly science and experiments. An Arduino project is electronics and digital when the controller itself is central, but also connects here when it is used to measure or control an experiment.

Preparing a metal salt for stained-glass pigment can combine this capability with Glass art. Resin formulation or casting can overlap with 3D printing or repair. The primary question is what the activity is trying to understand or achieve.

Safety, scale and responsible experimentation

Chemicals, flames, gases, pressure, heat, glassware, ultraviolet light and biological material can each require specific controls. An interesting effect is not enough reason to perform an experiment. Substances, quantities, waste, ventilation, protective equipment and the possibility of an unexpected reaction must be considered first.

Activities for children or beginners should use a scale and method that make observation possible without turning hazard into spectacle. More advanced preparation or chemical work requires clear identification of materials and a plan for handling, storage and disposal.

Preparing an experiment or investigation

state the question or practical result you want to explore;
identify the substances, samples or materials involved;
describe the intended scale, temperatures and equipment;
bring relevant safety data, procedures or source information;
explain how the result will be observed or measured;
consider waste, cleaning and safe storage after the activity.

For longer practical exploration, see Learning through practice. For the general principles around equipment, preparation and supervised use, see Tools and machines.

Community workshop – The Owl’s Nest