Instrumental: Using and Analysing Light

Abstract

Instrumental: Using and Analysing Light explores a broad range of technologies that use and analyse light. Visitors are introduced to the various functions and widespread applications of these optical instruments. Familiar instruments, like the microscope or telescope, are presented alongside less familiar instruments, like the spectroscope or polarimeter, encouraging the audience to investigate what they know and challenging them to learn something new. Dating from the beginning of the 19th century through to the turn of the 21st century, the selection of optical instruments and their thematic groupings in the display illustrate some of the many technological changes that have occurred over time. Similarly, the inclusion of examples made by renowned manufacturers, as well as those constructed by local or University researchers, exposes visitors to an array of instrument production techniques. While many examples are representative of the standard tools employed by scientists across a range of disciplines, others on display — like components of the ring-sight telescope or Sydney University Stellar Interferometer (SUSI) — are unique and highly specialised inventions developed here at the University. This exhibition is part of the Chau Chak Wing Museum exhibition series "Instrumental: Collections from Science".