JINA Joint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics

Nuclear Science: the GamesNuclear Science: the GamesSponsored by JINA and NSCL at MSUSponsored by JINA and NSCL at MSU

JINA is supported by the National Science JINA is supported by the National Science Foundation through the Physics Frontier Center Foundation through the Physics Frontier Center program.program.

JINA Nuclear astrophysics

Michigan State University’s

NationalSuperconductingCyclotronLaboratory

One of the JINA centers; a focal

point for nuclear theory and

research

JINA Studying the atomic nucleus

An atom

Proton

Neutron

Electron

The nucleus

All matter is made of atoms, and the nucleus is the heavy core of the

atom

JINA The Problem(s)

An atomic nucleus is as small

compared to you…

…as you are compared to our

ENTIRE solar system

• Nuclei are incomprehensibly small

• A lot of terminology• The word “nuclear”

JINA The Message

There are MANY different isotopes of various elements, most are unstable and don’t exist on Earth.

We have a lot to learn about nuclei!

Pro

ton

s (E

lem

ents

)

Neutrons (Isotopes)

JINA Why games?

• Active• Stealthy• Comfortable• Repetitive• Competitive• More fun!

JINA Marble Nuclei

• A hands-on way to model nuclei, radioactivity, & reactions

• Presented as stand-up demo or complete lesson (for use on- or off-site with easily-accessible equipment and instructions)

• 250+ teachers trained to use model/lesson/activities (games), 150+ more have downloaded the materials

Audience: General Public/Grades 7-12

Contact time: 5 minutes/2 hours/none

Outcome: General understanding of nuclear research goals/methods at NSCL

Cost: Free download, some materials provided via grant

JINA Magnet safety

The silvery magnet at the core of your “nucleus” is a rare-earth or neodymium magnet… very strong for its size.1.Don’t put that magnet in contact with anything that is magnetically sensitive (credit cards with a magnetic stripe, for instance)!2.If you get two of them together, careful they don’t pinch your fingers!3.You will likely drop some (or all) of your marbles. If you can’t find them, they are probably attached to a metal table leg or similar.

JINA Build a model nucleus

• Proton (positive, heavy)• Neutron (neutral, heavy)• Electron (negative, light)• Positron (positive, light)• (ignore)

Magnetic marbles make it possible!

JINA Marble nuclei activities

p-p chain

Nucleosynthesis Game

Isotope BINGO

JINA Instant Feedback

• What did you learn?• What made sense (“clicked”)? • What was confusing?• Suggestions?

JINA Other games

• CNO Cycle (solitaire)• Climb the Chart

(Chutes & Ladders)• Thomas Jefferson

National Accelerator Laboratory (education.jlab.org) Games & Puzzles

JINA Recurring Themes

• Simple, short (repeatable)• Borrows from known game

mechanic• Good ideas can come from

anyone/anywhere• Created through

collaboration• Thorough explanation of

game rules is critical

JINA Partnerships: find the expert

• Collaborations allow for multiplication of effort (i.e. 1+1>2)

• Researchers and Game Design faculty at MSU are currently working on an app to teach nuclear science while the gamer smashes nuclei

JINA Making a game

• Who is your audience?• What are your goals?• How can you make a game out of them?

– What will make it fun?– What will make it educational?

• Pair & Share now– Exchange ideas; what works?– Discussion to follow; what general/specific

suggestions can you share with the group?

JINA Outreach Philosophy

• Adapt your message to many audiences

• Be flexible• Differentiate yourself from

formal learning• Complement formal

learning• Partner with experts• Leverage your unique

experience and environment

• (almost) Always say yes• Let word-of-mouth attract

new audiences

JINA Find out more

www.jinaweb.org/html/outreach.htmlwww.jinaweb.org/html/outreach.html

www.nscl.msu.edu/outreachwww.nscl.msu.edu/outreach

visits@nscl.msu.eduvisits@nscl.msu.edu