world's smallest school emblem

The Emblem of Ockbrook School on a human hair, produced by Dr Chris Parmenter, NNNC.

The wonders of technology that can shrink everyday items on an atomic and molecular scale have enabled the historic emblem of Ockbrook School to appear on the end of a human hair.

Two Year 11 students at Ockbrook School visited The University of Nottingham’s Nanotechnology and Nanoscience Centre, as part of their Bronze CREST Science Award. Their project required electron microscope images of hair samples for a study into hair products.

In addition to the images required for the hair products study, the students returned to school with a bonus image. Using a digital image of the school’s emblem, Dr. Chris Parmenter, University of Nottingham Nanotechnology and Nanoscience Centre, "milled" it into a hair approximately 0.1mm wide, using a Gallium ion beam. The image enjoyed by the students was taken using an electron microscope at a magnification of x2200, to make it visible to the human eye.

Alison Steele, Head Teacher, Ockbrook School, says: “We believe that this is the world’s smallest school emblem, so it’s quite an accolade for the school. But there’s a serious educational message behind the wow factor. Our students are learning how these cutting edge technologies are creating new and varied applications which are making science fiction science fact.

“Our students benefit from many close associations with partner education establishments that enhance the breadth and depth of their learning experiences. We are immensely grateful to The University of Nottingham and its investment in nurturing scientists of the future and the school very much looks forward to building on this relationship.”