Excursion: Dr Derek Muller Written By Will

On Wednesday August 26th 2015 we went to 'Derek Muller: Meet the Uranium Documnetary Maker' Show in the Town Hall.
Mum and I drove to the city and found a park in a parking building. Then we went to the town hall but the doors weren't open so we went to get dinner. We had sushi at a Korean Restaurant. Mum got sushi with rice and fish eggs. I got Teriaki Chicken. Our drinks were juice and ginger beer. Then we checked out a shop with lots of cuddly toys and stuff and it also had pillows. We walked around town for a bit. Then we went to the town hall and we waited in the lobby for the doors to open. While we were waiting we played Noughts and Crosses.
When the doors opened we got through second. We were racing up the stairs and I stumbled but we got front row seats anyway. Before the presentation we got to meet Derek Muller. I gave him a hand shake and Mum took a photo of him with me.

Then the presentation started. First he talked about making the Uranium Documentary. The two funniest parts were when he was laying down on the rocks at Kakadu. And the story about when he went on the plane and he left his Geiger counter on. It was still measuring radiation and the alarm went off. The people on the plane got surprised and wondered where the alarm was coming from.

Uranium Atom

The Dragons were one of my favourite parts of the documentary.

Dr Muller cooling off at Kakadu.

Dr Mullers Geiger Counter.

How the documentary demonstrated 'half life'.

My favourite part was when we got to ask questions and he said my question was a good question. After the talk I was thirsty, we went to MacDonalds and got some drinks. Then we went to the car and started driving home. It was quite late when we got home. The talk was interesting it made me want to be a Nuclear Physicist.

The End.

 Dr Muller addressing Will's question about harnessing Nuclear power for space travel to Mars.

Mum's Notes: As part of the Science Festival and Science Week Scitech hosted the Presenter of Uranium Twisting the Dragon's Tail and  Veritasium 'Youtuber' Dr Derek Muller. Who just happens to be one of Will's favourite people. In fact when we booked the tickets he described himself as "actually shaking with excitement" at the prospect of meeting Dr Muller. And meet him we did.....

After his presentation he was interviewed by James Lush and then they had a question time for the audience. Will waited patiently with his hand up for a long time until the lady with the mic came and he got his turn. He asked about the likelihood of scientists being able to use the power from nuclear fission to power the Mars Rocket. Something he's been thinking about a lot since we watched the film.

When Dr Muller was speaking directly to Will. He said that the problem they are faced with is having the energy released slowly and not all at once as it is in a Uranium bomb. He thought there was a 50/50 chance that it may happen in Will's lifetime. 

By the time the presentation was finished we were at least an hour past Will's usual bedtime so it was something of a surprise to me that he stayed awake for a good 15 minutes in the car reflecting on the talk. I wish I had a tape recorder on him! 

I asked what the highlight was for him and he said he couldn't pick just one. So I asked for some of the stand-out moments- he said the whole thing was a stand-out. He went on to say that he is "eager to learn more about radioactive substances". He is thinking of changing his plan to be a chemist to being a Geophysicist or a Nuclear Physicist. He said that the kids at the presentation asked better questions because they were more 'sciencey'. And that the adults asked questions that were more political. (He was very on point there!) He stated that "When the science goes wrong is when the politics comes in." And he summed up with "Radiation is a force to be reckoned with. Especially the dragon."

♥