“The bigger the better” is how Graeme Jones, chemical ecologist, describes the molecular models that he takes such pleasure in creating.
Well known for “Sex Drugs and Rock and Roll” (a hit at the 2006 Cheltenham Science Festival) and smashing world records for making giant models of DNA, Graeme has now gained another achievement. He is the first chemist to put on a scientific exhibit on behalf of the Royal Society of Chemistry since they moved into their headquarters, Burlington House, in 1857.
Right now on the courtyard of Burlington House in front of the Royal Academy of Arts in Piccadilly, is a new piece of sci-art. Asked by the RSC to fit in with their 2009/2010 theme of Food, he has created ‘Carbon Rapture’ a group of three large scientific exhibits open for viewing until 27th August.
Graeme admits in a statement on his website that producing a large exhibit with the theme Food was not easy. “This was a tall order trying to come up with something that would be visually exciting and interesting to the general public. There were also a number of technical obstacles to overcome, the main one being the precious granite slabs, you can’t anchor anything down!!”
In the end Graeme decided to focus on carbon, the chemical present in all foods and he has now developed three exhibits:
1. The Diamond model – previously made for the Science Museum but this time featuring transparent carbons and translucent bonds which in his words “[give] it a more diamondy feel”
2. The Buckyball – which Graeme admits ironically “had a mega effect on the carbon footprint of the exhibition as I had to make a mad dash to Cumbria to sort out a problem”
3. Graphite
Graeme is a passionate scientific communicator who has, in his own words, spent the last few years “trying to re-establish science at the heart of culture”. With concerns that the “loss of scientific cultural identity…has increased the publics mistrust in science and scientists” he’s hoping that Carbon Rapture will allow the public to appreciate the hard work of scientists. I’m sure everyone will agree that this is a worthwhile cause – so make sure you visit Carbon Rapture before it closes on 27th August.
EDITED: Just edited the photos included in this post as Graeme very kindly took some more images for me today which show off his work much more clearly.