Announcing New Science Sundays (and Safety Signs)

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The Science Committee is pleased to announce the kickoff of a new Science Sunday format starting December 1st. We want to make sure that our Sunday gatherings are more accessible to everyone so we plan to try to have a fun science related demonstration or activity that anyone can participate in every week! We will also be doing rotating group research projects that either develop new knowledge, collaborate with other committees, or increase our capabilities. For more information see www.sciencesunday.org.

Information about Science Sundays and ongoing/upcoming projects and classes can be found on our TV monitor. Similarly the safety warning signs have been upgraded. Please be sure to have the appropriate sign visible when doing work that requires others to use eye protection for example. Thanks!

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Safety warning signs with magnetic covers:

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Project proposals for our group research projects are still welcome. We want to have rotating projects from different fields such as biology, physics, and chemistry.

Please submit a proposal page on source if you have an idea:
https://source.dallasmakerspace.org/display/SCIENCE/Project+Proposals

Likewise, suggestions for fun science activities are always welcome:
https://source.dallasmakerspace.org/display/SCIENCE/Fun+Activity+Suggestions

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Years ago, I took a soap making course in science at DMS. It was excellent, and I’ve been making my own soap for a number of years now.

I’ve done a lot of research on soap making, reading and testing out different formulas and making lots of different batches. You can find al kinds of information on the web including different recipes. I love this software/web application that takes the calculations out of trying different saponification values for different oils when making soap.

I’ve bought dozens of different oils, additives, tints, and scents. I have a large collection of molds and tools, too. I also have a lot of different books on the art and science of making soap.

I bought this book: Scientific Soapmaking: The Chemistry of the Cold Process
and it is excellent. It goes into depth on the saponification process. It has a lot of detail information on the actual scientific process.

Lastly, my wife has eczema. She’s fought it for many years. She’s had various shots, meds and tests, but it was this soap recipe that has made the most impact on relieving her pain and clearing her eczema up:

Eczema Soap.pdf (62.8 KB)

You can increase the superfat ratio in the recipe if you like, too. I’ve tried 5,6, and 7 percent values with varying success. I’ve also added vitamin E, aloe vera gel, titanium dioxide and sodium lactate and other things trying to improve the formula.

My wife has the soap bars in all the bathrooms so she has access anytime she washes. I’ve given many bars away to friends with eczema or who have children with it. It has been successful with quite a few of them. The soap is not a cheap soap.

The oil that has the most impact it NEEM so I usually add it last to the mix so that it is the lion’s share of the superfat oil left in the soap. I believe the fact that there is glycerin left in the soap, which if often removed in commercial soap, it makes a difference, too.

One caveat, is that soapmaking can be dangerous./hazardous if not done with the proper safety equipment and adhering to the proper safety steps. Sodium Hydroxide, Lye, NAOH is a very caustic akali and will burn skin, blind you if it gets into your eyes or explosive if improperly mixed. (Always pur the lye into water not the other way around).

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I’m glad to hear that the soapmaking class was useful to you. Sounds like at this point you probably are more of an expert yourself!

In terms of safety, most of the risk can be almost completely minimized with proper PPE such as safety glasses and a lab coat. I am aware that there was less of an emphasis on such things at some point before I joined, but we are trying to make sure we keep the highest safety standards going forwards.

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Count myself and mine (2 kids, ages 8 & 10) as support for another soap making class! Come share your expertise :slight_smile:

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I rsvp’d for this Sunday’s, but i’m not sure how to register my kids as well. That said, is there somewhere I could find more guidance on avenues of approval for young ones participating in classes/membership? I tried looking through the rules and I’m struggling to understand what is required.

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For example… on events that do not have a minimum age (Science Sundays?), should my kids have their own accounts or emails with which to register? Or, since they are not allowed to be members technically (and/or for events where they do not meet the minimum age) should I register myself only and maybe bring them along to “audit”?

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In general, minors under the age of 16 cannot register for classes or events separately. This would involve registering yourself and bringing them along to “audit.”

For Science Sunday specifically, we will usually try to have fun activity portion that is suitable for all ages. However, on occasion certain activities may involve some hazards that might not be (and I thought that I had selected 16+ on this weeks but must have made an error). Last week’s slime and the next weeks air vortex cannon are kid friendly. This week, however, they would be welcome to observe the silver mirroring process but not get hands on with chemicals. I’ll be sure to more clearly note the suitable age ranges for each week in the future.

In terms of the group project that we do in the second half of the Science Sundays, they are generally not suitable for children younger than high school but exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis. For example, my brother was doing an engineering internship at the age of 11-12 and Aiden here has put together a nuclear fusion reactor at the same age. But in my experience, I have found that minors under the age of 10 are not quite ready to work on a lab research project even though they may be very smart.