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Slip in to the “Science of Slime” during July’s school holidays
Date: Monday, 15 June 2009
Did you say “slime”? Yes slime and kids certainly love gooey and sticky things don’t they?
This July, the Scitech Roadshow team will be visiting the Naturaliste Marine Discovery Centre (NMDC) at Hillarys Boat Harbour to explore the chemistry of different types of slime. Participating children can even make their own batch of slime to take home.
Activity Dates: Thursday 9 July and Tuesday 14 July 2009
Activity Time: 10:30am to 11:30am
Cost: $12 (minimum age 6 years)–includes entry to NMDC
Bookings (essential): Phone 9203 0339
Marine Discovery Centre Manager Bruce Mackay said slime (another name for mucus) was an important part of marine creatures’ physiology.
“These creatures produce mucus for many different functions including feeding, protection, locomotion and reproduction – the most obvious use of mucus would be the slime coating on fish,” Mr Mackay said.
“If you have ever been fishing you would have noticed the slippery, slimy texture of a finfish. That’s a coating known as a mucoprotein, which covers their scales and skin and protects the fish from bacterial infections.
“This slime is essential for their health and survival, which is why it is recommended that you always handle fish with a wet rag, thereby minimising the removal of the slime.”
Mr Mackay said that slime, or jelly-like, substances were also known to be an important structural component to some animals and plants.
“Sea jellies, for example, are a membrane filled with jelly-like substance. Kelp and other brown seaweeds contain another gelatinous substance – called algin – that is widely used as a thickening agent in products like ice cream, pet food and tooth paste.
”The Science of Slime activities by Scitech’s Roadshow team will not only be informative and help the children learn new things, but it’ll be good fun as well.
“We are looking forward to its visits to the NMDC and we are expecting the activities to attract considerable interest here during the school holidays.”
More information about the Science of Slime and the Naturaliste Marine Discovery Centre, including how to get there, is available online at www.nmdc.com.au.
This July, the Scitech Roadshow team will be visiting the Naturaliste Marine Discovery Centre (NMDC) at Hillarys Boat Harbour to explore the chemistry of different types of slime. Participating children can even make their own batch of slime to take home.
Activity Dates: Thursday 9 July and Tuesday 14 July 2009
Activity Time: 10:30am to 11:30am
Cost: $12 (minimum age 6 years)–includes entry to NMDC
Bookings (essential): Phone 9203 0339
Marine Discovery Centre Manager Bruce Mackay said slime (another name for mucus) was an important part of marine creatures’ physiology.
“These creatures produce mucus for many different functions including feeding, protection, locomotion and reproduction – the most obvious use of mucus would be the slime coating on fish,” Mr Mackay said.
“If you have ever been fishing you would have noticed the slippery, slimy texture of a finfish. That’s a coating known as a mucoprotein, which covers their scales and skin and protects the fish from bacterial infections.
“This slime is essential for their health and survival, which is why it is recommended that you always handle fish with a wet rag, thereby minimising the removal of the slime.”
Mr Mackay said that slime, or jelly-like, substances were also known to be an important structural component to some animals and plants.
“Sea jellies, for example, are a membrane filled with jelly-like substance. Kelp and other brown seaweeds contain another gelatinous substance – called algin – that is widely used as a thickening agent in products like ice cream, pet food and tooth paste.
”The Science of Slime activities by Scitech’s Roadshow team will not only be informative and help the children learn new things, but it’ll be good fun as well.
“We are looking forward to its visits to the NMDC and we are expecting the activities to attract considerable interest here during the school holidays.”
More information about the Science of Slime and the Naturaliste Marine Discovery Centre, including how to get there, is available online at www.nmdc.com.au.
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