Selected Papers on Hands-on Science II

Preface of the book Selected Papers on Hands-on Science IIinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Brief overview of the current status of the research in optics and photonics in Portugal

The Portuguese Optics and Photonics Society, SPOF, Sociedade Portuguesa para a Investi-gação e Desenvolvimento em Óptica e Fotónica, [1] was established in November 2009 reflecting the development of the scientific and technological research in Optics and Photonics in Portugal over last decades. Since then the research in optics and photonics both at academic level but also, notably and increasingly, at the industry, is experiencing a remarkable development. In this communication we will proceed with a brief presentation of the main research groups and research lines in Portugal. The very positive experience with the newly established photonics companies and spin-offs is going to be presented as well as SPOF main activities that included the organization of the last edition of RIAO/OPTILAS [2] and the 12th Education and Training in Optics and Photonics Conference and in 2013 [3] and two major AOP conferences in 2011 [4] and 2014 [5]. The next edition of SPOF’ triennial conference AOP2017 will be held at the University of Algarve in Faro, Portugal, May 8 to 12, 2017 [6].info:eu-repo/semantics/draf

Hands-on Science

In the Society of our days there is a major increasing need of an in depth quality education in Science and Technology. Science teaching at school should be generalised aiming not only the sound establishment of a “Science” culture in our societies but also to guarantee a steady basis for the improvement of Science and its technological applications. Urgent actions should be taken in this direction. By initiative of the author the “Hands-on Science” (H-Sci) network was created. The European Commission under the program Socrates, Comenius 3 action (project nº. 110157-CP-1-2003-1-PT-COMENIUS-C3) supports the network

Hands-on science network. Improving science education towards a sustainable development

Established in October 2003 in the frames of the Comenius 3 action of the Socrates program of the European Commission, the European Network “Hands-on Science” developed since then a vast range of activities towards a better Science Education in European Schools. Our main goal is the promotion and development of Science Education and scientific literacy in Europe. We aim to generalise innovate and improve Science & Technology teaching at basic vocational training and secondary schools by hands-on experimental practice in the classroom. Bringing hands-on active learning of Science into the classroom and into the soul and spirit of the school. The network, established now as an International Association, enrols as institutional or individual members, over two hundreds schools, several universities, national and international associations, governmental bodies, science centres and museums, NGO’s and companies of practically all countries of the European Union and from all over the world

Detection of skin neoplasia by fractal analysis of 2D images and microtopography

Early detection of skin cancer is fundamental to its successful treatment. Changes in the shape, including the relief, of skin lesions are an indicator of a possible malignancy l and image processing optical microtopographic inspection of skin lesions can be used to identify diagnostic patterns of benign and malignant skin lesions. Statistical parameters like the mean roughness (Ra) may allow the discrimination between different types of lesions and degree of malignancy. Fractal analysis of bi-dimensional and 3D images of skin lesions can validate or complement this assessment by calculation of its fractal dimensions (FD). In the study reported herein, the microtopographic inspection of the skin lesions was performed by using the optical triangulation based microtopographer developed at the Physics Department of the University of Minho, MICROTOP.03.MFC. Images of the skin lesions were digitized and processed in order to calculate fractal parameters.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Surface dimensional metrology by optical triangulation

Non-destructive dimensional inspection of surfaces is an issue of utmost importance in a large number of situation in R&D and in the industrial world. An increasing number of surfaces and surface types must be microtopographically characterized in non-invasive ways. Optical triangulation in different approaches allow the establishment of metrological systems that by its inherent relative simplicity versatility robustness and reliability can cope with most modern requirements of the non-invasive inspection of objects and surfaces both smooth or rough. In this communication we will present a brief review of the work done at the Microtopography Laboratory of the Physics Department of the University of Minho, Portugal, on the development of methods and systems of optical triangulation based microtopographic inspection of surfaces.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Image processing: application to the characterization of thin films

Image processing and digital image acquisition became on last decades most valuable tools in the characterization of materials. The strong development of micro and nano sciences and technologies on recent years brought special demands to the non-invasive inspection and characterisation of thin films and nanostructures. Digital image processing can be successfully applied to different types of microscopy’ images but also together with other characterization methods like microtopography spectroscopy or lifetime measurements. On this communication we will report on the work developed on the field at University of Minho at the Department of Physics’ Microtopography Laboratory with samples provided by the department’ Functional Coatings Group.(undefined

A cycle-ergonometer

The ability to integrate, to reason and to operate in situations involving diverse and varied types of knowledge from typically “not related” fields – physics, biology, maths, chemistry, ergonomics…- in our education system it might surely be of utmost importance in a sound effective science education.The hands-on activity herein proposed intends to tackle this need of interdisciplinary through activities directly related and significant to our everyday life. We propose the study setting up and use of a digital cycle-ergometer. A cycle-ergonometer can be defined as bicycle that, in general, is kept stationary and to which are adapted instruments that allow measuring the physical effort developed during the pedalling proces

Introduction to fiber optics and telecommunications

The evolution of technology and the development of new solutions that directly affects our everyday life demand the establishment of a sound scientific and technological literacy in our societies. From early ages our youngsters and pupils should have an enduring and efficient knowledge update especially in what concerns key proficiency and aptitudes. It is so important to promote the pedagogical conception development and production of new materials and equipment that may allow the introduction, in-school but also in informal learning environments, to basic concepts of recently developed high-tech including the underlying scientific theories. In our days, in our Information (or better Knowledge based) Society, telecommunications play a fundamental, crucial, role. With the massive increase of the amount of information that needs to be exchange, virtually in real time, between all the points of the globe, all the telecommunications system had to be redesigned and renewed in the last decades. At present, optical fibers are at the foundation of all modern telecommunications system. It was its sprouting and development which allowed telecommunications development to the level that we now observe and to what is already foreseen in a near future. Thus optical fibers and waveguides are surely our day’s one of the most important domains of physics and of Science and Technology in general

3D printing and inspection

Non-destructive dimensional inspection of surfaces is an issue of utmost importance in a large number of situations in R&D and at the industrial world. An increasing number of surfaces and sur-face types must be microtopographically characterized in a non-destructive non-invasive way [1]. Statistical parameters, both 2D and 3D, are fundamental to a useful quantitative characterization of the surface’ relief. However the two and tridimensional magnified representation of the microtopo-graphic structure of the surface, allowing a comfortable and detailed visualization of the relief structure, gives very meaningful insights and is more and more requested.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio