Explore 'The Journey of Light' at the Adelaide Botanic Garden
How can the interaction of glass and light unlock faster internet, advanced medical diagnostics, quantum computing and more?
Glassmaking dates back 4,000 years, yet it still shapes our connected lives. Australia leads in pioneering glass science research shaping the future. This exhibition will show you glass, but not as you know it.
ANFF-OptoFab Adelaide and the Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS) are excited to announce the launch of The Journey of Light, an exhibition exploring the fascinating world of glass science, now on display at the Museum of Economic Botany in the Adelaide Botanic Garden. Part of the Chihuly in the Botanic Garden Event and inspired by the iconic art pieces from Dale Chihuly, this exhibition brings together artistic and scientific explorations of glass. This free-to-access exhibition is open to the public from now through April 2025.
Led by University of Adelaide Professor and ANFF-OptoFab Deputy Director Heike Ebendorff-Heidepriem, The Journey of Light showcases how glass and light are at the heart of transformative technologies, including quantum computing, advanced medical diagnostics, and ultra-fast internet connectivity.
Featuring five distinct stations, visitors will experience a journey of discovery through the science and innovation behind various glass materials and forms:
A ZBLAN ODYSSEY – A stunning artwork by Karen Cunningham, seated on a glowing ZBLAN rod. This station highlights ZBLAN glass, a next-gen candidate for ultra-high-speed internet cables, currently being tested on the International Space Station.
GLASS, BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT – Explore the possibilities of 3D printing with glass, including complex shapes and customizations that are revolutionizing industries.
GLASS TO CONNECT AND UNDERSTAND OUR WORLD– Discover the making and function of optical fibres, the backbone of global communication and sensing, showcasing the journey from creation to practical application.
ZBLAN – FROM DEEP SEA TO OUTER SPACE– Learn about ZBLAN, a remarkable glass under intense study as the next-generation material for high-speed internet cables. The story unfolds of how the University of Adelaide, in partnership with Flawless Photonics, launched ZBLAN into space to be drawn into fiber on the International Space Station. This groundbreaking achievement in microgravity opens new possibilities for data transfer on Earth.
TINY PARTICLES WITH BIG POTENTIAL – When we incorporate very small particles of material into glass, it can give the glass to quantum properties. Learn how the addition of tiny particles to glass can create remarkable changes, driving advancements in photonics and materials science.
Whether you’re a science enthusiast, a student or simply curious about the innovations that are shaping our future, The Journey of Light offers an engaging and accessible experience for all.
The Museum of Economic Botany is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm, with extended hours on weekends. https://www.botanicgardens.sa.gov.au/whats-on/chihuly-in-the-botanic-garden
For more information on The Journey of Light, visit https://www.adelaide.edu.au/ipas/glass-science-exhibition
For more information on ANFF-OptoFab Adelaide, visit https://www.adelaide.edu.au/optofab/
Posted: 18 November 2024
