UC hosts ‘Day of Light’ at museum

UC faculty will lead children of all ages through interactive activities and demonstrations of scientific tools and processes that use light.

“We want to show kids all the cool things we can do with light and explain how light works,” UC Assistant Professor Pietro Strobbia said.

The second-annual International Day of Light from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 25 is sponsored by the Cincinnati chapter of the Society of Applied Spectroscopy.

Scientists from UC will be joined by colleagues from Miami University, Northern Kentucky University and Procter & Gamble Co along with representatives from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The STEM outreach program for children is inspired by the International Day of Light created by UNESCO or the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, the group known for its list of world heritage sites.

The International Day of Light was created by UNESCO to celebrate the anniversary of the creation of the first laser in 1960. But it is meant to celebrate the study of all things light that have helped in advances in medicine, energy, technology and the arts.

In his chemistry lab, Strobbia uses spectroscopy to identify traces of infections or harmful chemicals in samples of everything from blood to plant sap to wastewater. Using spectroscopy, scientists can split light apart into its constituent colors or wavelengths, allowing scientists to identify the chemicals present in the sample.

The tools have been useful in surprising applications.

Spectroscopy can be used to identify unlabeled pharmaceuticals, he said.

“You can tell if a tablet contains aspirin or fentanyl” he said.

Strobbia collaborated with geologists and art historians at UC to help area museums learn more about artworks in their collection. They analyzed some pieces whose provenance were murky to see if science could resolve the questions using spectroscopy to study the chemical composition of the paints.

Light is also fundamental to optics used in instruments such as microscopes, telescopes and cameras.

“Light science, or photonics, is present in our everyday life,” Strobbia said.

Nanoparticles interacting with light are used as sensors for medical devices. It’s what creates the red lines that you see in home tests for COVID-19, he said. And sunscreens are designed to block ultraviolet light from reaching your skin.

Strobbia has been working with lasers, which have been called one of the most important scientific and technological inventions of the 20th century. A laser beam is a coherent and mono-directional beam of light of a single color. It’s created by electrical energy exciting photons that get bounced between mirrors and directed through a tiny portal to create a laser beam.

“Spectroscopy can even tell you what kinds of plastic bottles can be recycled,” he said.

The program is a good networking opportunity for local members of the Society for Applied Spectroscopy, he said. Some of his students will help run the outreach activities.

“There are a lot of career opportunities in chemistry in Cincinnati. So by reaching younger kids, we can introduce them to chemistry,” he said.

Featured image at top: UC Assistant Professor Pietro Strobbia uses a laser in his chemistry lab. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand