The mass experiment took place at the initiative of the Ministry of Science and Technology in 14 research and science institutions across the country
More than 4000 science enthusiasts, children and adults, participated last Thursday, September 22, in a mass recreation of the "Chemical Garden" experiment conducted by Ilan Ramon in space as part of an initiative led by the Ministry of Science and Technology. The event, which took place on the "Night of the Scientists" at the same time in 14 locations throughout the country, competes to break a new Guinness record in the category "the largest mass chemistry class held in several places at the same time".
At this point, final confirmation has not yet been received from the Guinness Book of Records if it is indeed a new world record, but the initial estimates are that the record will indeed be entered into the book. The Ministry of Science and Technology is collecting the evidence of the record achievement from the participating institutions and an answer on the subject should be received from the Guinness headquarters in London within a few days. The current record now stands at 562 participants in a chemistry class held at one place in Belgium. If the Guinness Book of Records company approves the record, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the participating institutions will be registered as Guinness World Record holders, something that will bring additional global honor to science in Israel.
The 4000 participants in the experiment on Thursday took part in a half-hour class that dealt with the "Chemical Garden" experiment. The experiment was presented to Ramon in 2003 by a group of high school students from Ort Kiryat Motzkin and was performed by him about six hours after the shuttle lifted off. The purpose of the experiment conducted by Ramon at the time was to examine the mechanism of crystal growth in a "glass water" solution under the conditions of gravity in space. In the mass class led by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the participants tested the chemical reaction under the conditions of gravity on Earth. As part of a short lesson that included explanations, a video about Ilan Ramon and demonstrations, each participant in his own personal kit mixed crystals of the materials calcium chloride, copper chloride and iron trichloride into a solution of "glass water". The mixing created a chemical reaction that within a few minutes grew the crystals together upwards and the product is a compound in the colors of the Israeli flag - blue and white - and a gold colored reaction around it.
According to the Director General of the Ministry of Science and Technology Menachem Greenblum, "Thousands of Israelis proved today that Israel is a nation of science. The initiative of the Ministry of Science shows that when people have the opportunity to experience science in an accessible way, they respond with great enthusiasm."
The peak event took place simultaneously in 14 research and science institutions throughout the country: the Madatech Science Museum in Haifa, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, the University of Haifa, Bar Ilan University, Tel Aviv University, the Bloomfield Science Museum in Jerusalem, the Sami Shimon Academic College of Engineering in Be'er Sheva, the Academic College of Engineering in Jerusalem, the Hamda branch of the Weizmann Institute in Rehovot, the Science Garden in Kiryat Yam, Ort Brauda College in Karmiel, the Sea and Lake Research Institute in Eilat and the municipality of Kiryat Motzkin. The largest number of participants was at the science park in Kiryat Yam where about 1200 people came. At the Haifa Science Tech, 658 people participated in the event that spread across Golomb Street in Haifa.
The "Scientists' Night", held every year throughout Europe since 2007, is a night of diverse scientific events and activities for the whole family in cooperation with the Ministry of Science and Technology, the European Union and the Ministry of Science and Technology. On this evening, all research and science institutions across the country open their doors to the general public free of charge and offer face-to-face meetings with scientists, laboratory tours, lectures, experiential workshops, sessions and diverse activities. This year the events were held under the banner of "Chemistry in the service of the community" on the occasion of the International Year of Chemistry announced by the United Nations.
