Props for the Take-Out Talk

The Take-Out Talk is intended to be a presentation of exciting materials science developments, given with color transparencies and props, that you can make to technical or non-technical audiences. We have written a sample script and created color transparency masters to accompany the presentation. The script (or previous edition) and the color tranparency masters (or previous edition) can be downloaded. The props, pictured above, can either be obtained from the suppliers or borrowed from us on a first-come, first-served basis, with the presenter agreeing to cover shipping and handling costs. We also request that you fill out an evaluation form. This form will ask for information about the audience, the response they had to the presentation, and your suggestions for improving the presentation.

"Thank you for coming and doing those experiments, they were really cool. I especially liked the ferrofluid. Can you email me the recipe? "
A 6th grade student at Jefferson Middle School, in Madison WI.

"The props box and related information constitute a very effective combination. I received many positive comments at the presentation, and some very interesting thank you notes from the students (6th graders) indicating to me that they are comfortable with and fascinated by science and technology. One student commented in his thank you note, 'Thank you so much for coming to our school to talk about science. Your presentation was so cool!' It had everything that we wanted. It's really a very nice collection of 'props'. Thanks very much!"
Verne Hess
Program Director
Electronic Materials Program
Division of Materials Research
National Science Foundation

For scheduling use of a props box and shipping arrangements, contact:

Greta Zenner, Director of Education
MRSEC - Interdisciplinary Education Group
University of Wisconsin College of Engineering
3115 Engineering Centers Building
1550 Engineering Drive
Madison WI 53706
phone: 608-263-7128

The presentation should be held in a darkenable room that contains an overhead projector and projection screen.

The props box contains:

one large refrigerator magnet for the speaker
small refrigerator magnets for the audience

optical transform slides for the audience
a laser pointer for the speaker
a mini-maglite for the speaker

LED color strip
blue LED circuit
tri-color LED board
9-volt batteries

ferrofluid and cow magnet

carbon nanotube pencils

All of the items above are provided except the overhead projector and projection screen. The speaker is encouraged to give away the refrigerator magnets. All other items should be collected so they can be reused.

There are a number of Take-Out-Talks available for loan stationed around the world. Currently talks reside at:

University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
Christian Brothers University, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
Museum of Science, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Hong Kong Council of Early Childhood Education and Services (CECES), Hong Kong (translated to Mandarin)
Worldwide Universities Network Headquarters, United Kingdom (www.wun.ac.uk)
Learning and Teaching Support Network, United Kingdom
Institute of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway