News

Making AI fun at Aalto Family Day

CEST members hosted an interactive molecules game display at the Aalto Family Day
A group of people including children sitting around desks with monitors
CEST members J. Järvi and P. Rinke with their show display
Photo showing 2 children with 2 CEST researchers at monitors
P. Rinke, J. Järvi with Jon (7 years) and Elvi (5 years) at their display

CEST participated in the Aalto Family Day on 10. September 2022 with their interactive molecules display “Do it like the BOSS”. Group leader Prof. Patrick Rinke, doctoral researcher Jari Järvi, and former CEST members Prof. Milica Todorovic and Dr. Lauri Himanen had designed the activity that encourages everyone from children to adults to explore a common biological molecule, the amino acid alanine. Although small in size, alanine can adopt 13 different stable forms depending on the rotation of its chemical bonds. In the Do-it-like-the-BOSS molecules game, participants had to rotate alanine bonds using a touch screen to find the molecule's lowest energy state. Once participants had succeeded, they could then build their own alanine molecule from colored polystyrene balls or go wild and crazy and design new molecules. To accomplish this type of search in real life, CEST has developed an artificial intelligence tool called BOSS (Bayesian Optimization Structure Search) that can identify these lowest energy state conformations in various molecules and other systems quickly and efficiently.

Aalto Family Day proved to be a fun experience for both the hosting scientists as well as the audience - people of all ages dropped by during the day and tested their molecular building skills. Rinke and Järvi are certainly already planning their next outreach activity for another event in the future.

For more details contact

  • Published:
  • Updated:
Share
URL copied!

Read more news

Aalto University / Petri Suomala / Photo: Mikko Raskinen
Appointments, University Published:

Petri Suomala continues as Vice President for Education

The vice president’s term of appointment is five years and starts on 1 September 2023
Audience in smaller tables listening to senior university lecturer Leena Lankoski
Cooperation, University Published:

Aalto Alumni Strategy Circle shared insights on sustainability and strategy

Sustainability in strategy was discussed at the Aalto Alumni Strategy Circle’s second after work event on 8 March 2023.
Opiskelija lukuvuoden avajaisjuhlinnassa puhelin kädessä.
University Published:

Aalto University’s academic results remained on a good level in 2022 despite declining funding

Board approved the Annual Board Report and Financial Statements for 2022
Students studying together in a group
University Published:

Aalto University endowment provided EUR 35 million in 2022 to education and research

Endowment investment return was -3.5% in a challenging investment environment