Close up: UMU takes to the water
On the evening of Saturday 15 October 2022, two canal boats brimming with science cruised through Utrecht's canals. On these boats, ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ Museum Utrecht (UMU) contributed to the Utrecht KIDS Museum Night event.
Families on the research boat carried out experiments and explored a range of questions, including: will a double cone roll up or down? Can we really do two things at once? On the other boat, various Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ researchers shared stories about their research. For example, researcher Francesca Sangiorgi talked about her extraordinary trip to Antarctica.
The rapid – man-made – global warming we're currently experiencing is causing Antarctica to melt. That puts low-lying countries and coastal areas at risk. The question is, when and how fast will Antarctica actually melt? I'm trying to figure that out by studying sediments from soil samples drilled near Antarctica. This method allows us to study warmer periods in the distant past and predict the future more accurately. Raising awareness of climate change among new generations is crucial to both our future and that of Antarctica. Museum night was a great opportunity to do just that. I really enjoyed seeing all those curious faces and getting so many insightful questions.
Text: Eline Dondorp
