On 8 February 2024, Durham University's Dr Lorraine Coghill delivered a special workshop at Blackhall Community Centre, about advanced 'smart' materials to a group of local artists and creative facilitators in the Street Cosmos network.
A new Street Cosmos interactive family activity is being designed about spacesuits. Modern spacesuits are marvels of engineering, constructed from a complex mix of materials, each chosen for its specific properties to protect astronauts in the harsh environment of space. Lorraine took the opportunity to embed some up-to-date research in adaptive materials into the project.
The artists got first-hand experience with Kevlar, fibre optics, nanocarbon and photochromic materials, particularly highlighting samples created locally at NET Park science zone and Durham University.
They discussed their wide present day uses, then imagined how they could be utilised for artistic projects and more future-scoping endeavours.
