Discover the X-ray Materials Science (XMaS) project

Suitable for 14 to 19-year-olds (secondary and high schools, and college), this article and accompanying activity sheet can be used in the classroom or shared with students online.

This resource links to KS4 and KS5 physics, chemistry and technology.

It can also be used as a careers resource and links to Gatsby Benchmarks:
Gatsby Benchmark 2: Learning from career and labour market information
Gatsby Benchmark 4: Linking curriculum learning to careers

• This teaching resource explains the work of the XMaS (X-ray Materials Science) research project. Head up by Professor Tom Hase from the University of Warwick alongside Professor Chris Lucas from the University of Liverpool in the UK, XMaS uses a synchrotron facility, a massive doughnut-shaped structure that accelerates electrons to high velocities. These electrons emit X-ray radiation, which can be used to study the tiniest intricate structures within all kinds of materials. What does this mean for society and our future?

• Through XMaS, researchers are able to examine the behaviour of minute and hidden objects. This resource contains interviews with researchers who are investigating a wide range of societal challenges from tooth decay to photovoltaics in solar panels… from the Tudor warship Mary Rose to organic electronics…and from contraceptive devices to the behaviour of catalysts. If you or your students have a question for them, you can submit it online – go to the article using the Futurum link below and scroll to the bottom of the page. the researchers will reply!

• You will also find details for numerous student outreach opportunities, including the XMaS Scientist Experience. This Experience is a UK competition for Year 12 female physics students aimed at encouraging female students into scientific careers where they are seriously under-represented.

• The activity sheet provides ‘talking points’ (based on Bloom’s Taxonomy) to prompt students to reflect on the the work being undertaken through XMaS, and tasks them to think about how materials science impacts us all.

• The PowerPoint summarises the key points in the article and can be used as a standalone resource or together with the article and activity sheet.

This resource was first published on Futurum Careers, a free online resource and magazine aimed at encouraging 14-19-year-olds worldwide to pursue careers in science, tech, engineering, maths, medicine (STEM) and social sciences, humanities and the arts for people and the economy (SHAPE).

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