Creating a Colourful Life is a schools outreach project funded by the EPSRC in collaboration with leading European pigment manufacturers. The project is a joint venture between Mark Weller ( University of Southampton) and Sandie Dann ( Loughborough University). The aim is to show that chemistry has provided a colourful environment by the development of pigments. Through hands-on activities and demonstration talks we show how colours have been developed throughout history and why they are so important to everyday life. Some of the topics that will be covered within the talks and workshops are briefly mentioned below: -
One area explored is the history of pigments and colour, showing how important it has been in developing the chemical colours we have available today. Through the developments in science we now have many colours available to us that are safer and more stable. This project allows people to get experience at making and using their own paints (the way the cave men did), in a manner that is both safe and visually pleasing. The participants will also look at the colours and pigments at atomic level looking at the molecular structure of certain pigments.
Cave Art from Lascaux Cave
http://www.culture.gouv.fr/culture/arcnat/lascaux/en/
Due to the collaboration with leading pigment manufacturers we also have access to the latest pigments such as lustre pigments, photochromic and thermochromic pigments. Participants can also see how these pigments play a large role in the cosmetic industry and within car paints. Looking at how the environment has been used for thousands of years to colour items such as clothing by using plants, animals and minerals; from the Cave men to the Egyptians. Also how the environment today influences us to make new pigments which mimic the colours seen in animals such as Lustre pigments which glimmer and glisten like a butterfly’s wings. With the aid of major European industries we can show the participants the journey of the pigment from the science labs right through industry to the shop floor. Hand-on activities will allow the participants to make and use their own pigments and test the properties of many different types of pigments.
Lustre pigments
The project’s aim is to have exhibitions at the Natural History Museum, Snibston Discovery Park and other science learning centres as well as going to many science festivals to help get people more aware of how important science research is in the development of pigments and the colour around us. High impact demonstrative talks lasting from 10 minutes to an hour are being developed currently, along with sets of relevant hands-on workshops to help further support the information in the talk. Resources and web-based material will also be made available to schools and the community to help promote further learning into the area.
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