Cutting Edge Materials

Materials science is shaping our futures and offers a range exciting career opportunities.  These resources provide practical activities and teaching ideas which introduce students to  some fascinating new materials and demonstrate the potential applications of this research which will help to make learning relevant in the classroom.

Novel Materials and Smart Applications

Quality AssuredCategory:PhysicsPublisher:Gatsby Science Enhancement Programme

This booklet contains an illustrated overview of the topic with suggestions for teachers on how to introduce novel materials, plus student activity sheets and notes for teachers and technicians.

The activities can form part of a lesson or be set up as a circus of activities around the room. They could also be adapted to suit KS3. A range of low-cost practical resources to support the activities are available for purchase from Mindsets

Cutting Edge Materials

Quality AssuredCollectionCategory:PhysicsPublisher:Institute of Physics

These six practicals produced by the Institute of Physics (IOP) help students to find out more about how science is applied to using and testing new materials.There is also a video showing the work of a materials scientist, with supporting worksheets.

Smart Materials

Quality AssuredCollectionCategory:Design and technologyPublisher:Technology Enhancement Programme







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If you are planning to incorporate a range of smart materials into a scheme of work, these films from the Technology Enhancement Programme (TEP) demonstrate the properties, and use, of a range of materials that are available. Smart materials have one or more properties that can be significantly changed in a controlled fashion by external stimuli, such as stress, temperature, moisture, or pH. 

Go with the Flow: Investigating Bouncy Fluids and Other Strange Materials

Quality AssuredCategory:SciencePublisher:Gatsby Science Enhancement Programme

A range of practical activities to introduce a selection of materials with interesting and unusual flow properties. Specialist materials, mostly polymers, such as slime, polymorph, silicone gum and putty, plus the magnetic liquid, Ferrofluid, are required for the activities.

For each material the booklet provides ideas for practical activities, safety and handling information, curriculum links and background science. The activities can be used across the attainment range in KS3 and KS4

Superconductors: Powering the Future, Probing the Past

Quality AssuredCategory:SciencePublisher:Gatsby Science Enhancement Programme

Superconductors are materials which, when cooled below a certain temperature, lose all their electrical resistance, and display some other remarkable physical properties. This article explains how superconductors work and what the future use of them may be.

Physics for Future Technology: Condensed Matter

Quality AssuredCategory:PhysicsPublisher:Institute of Physics

This brochure, produced jointly by the Institute of Physics and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), highlights the world-class work that takes place in the UK in areas of physics which have the potential for commercial exploitation.

Careers Publications

Quality AssuredCategory:PhysicsPublisher:Institute of Physics

A range of publications from the Institute of Physics to help students' appreciate the rich career options opened up through study of physics.

Case Studies from 2011: Technology and Engineering

Quality AssuredCategory:Design and technologyPublisher:Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) - UKRI

When teaching any topic in science, it always makes the subject more engaging if you can include real and exciting applications.  These case studies highlight some great examples of the research funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council in 2011, including expanding blast-proof curtain which will reduce impact of bomb explosions and a personal solar power pack that could help our troopson the battlefield.

Light at the End of the Tunnel

Quality AssuredCategory:PhysicsPublisher:Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) - UKRI

A case study from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council which looks new methods of producing gallium nitride, used in energy saving LEDs.  Making low-energy LED lighting cheaper and more widely available could slash UK electricity consumption by up to 15%.

If aluminium is added to GaN then deep ultra-violet light can be produced and this kills all viruses and bacteria. Fitting ultra-violet GaN LEDs to the inside of water pipes could vastly reduce water-borne diseases.