They felt chemistry… to chemistry
How to encourage high school pupils to study chemistry? For example, by inviting them to modern laboratories at the University. Scientists from the Faculty of Chemistry of the Silesian University of Technology conducted classes for 13 pupils of the Academic Secondary Comprehensive School in Rybnik. The young people conducted a number of chemical experiments and found out how theoretical knowledge can be used in practice.
Scientists from three departments of the Faculty of Chemistry joined forces so that the classes had a variety of topics. Pupils started the day at the Department of Chemical Organic Technology and Petrochemistry, where, after a theoretical introduction, they started laboratory work. - We make body lotion and bath bombs, it's not very complicated, you have to measure the ingredients very carefully, mix them carefully and be careful when heating them - said Ewa Matys, a pupil of the 1st class of ALO (Academic Secondary Comprehensive School) in Rybnik. – I like these classes, I have been interested in chemistry since primary school – she added.
– In my opinion, this is a great initiative, I think that there should be as many such classes as possible. We can see what chemistry looks like in practice, which is a very important experience, because learning the theory alone does not always allow you to understand the subject - argued Mikołaj Mocek, a pupil of the 1st class of ALO in Rybnik.
Pupils saw spectacular and even explosive reactions in the laboratory of the Department of Inorganic Chemistry Analytical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, where Dr. Eng. Maciej Sowa conducted classes on plasma anode treatment of light metal alloys. - I think that any way is good to get as many people interested in chemistry as possible, who may consider studying chemistry as the beginning of their professional career in the future - said the scientist. - We also want to show pupils what distinguishes the Silesian University of Technology from the competition from the region - he added.
During classes with scientists from the Department of Chemical Engineering and Process Design, pupils also learned about the use of modern 3D printing methods . - Such meetings in a real chemical laboratory are a great opportunity for young people to find out how interesting chemistry is and why it is worth learning - said Jerzy Maduzia, a chemistry teacher at the Academic Secondary Comprehensive School in Rybnik, who initiated the idea of organizing classes for pupils at the Faculty of Chemistry – There are not always proper laboratories in school, and if we only learn theory, we forget it over time. Experimentation encourages a pupil to discover the secrets of knowledge, in this case, chemistry. And who knows if, thanks to such experiments, they will become a scientist at the Silesian University of Technology in the future - added the teacher.
Pictures: Jerzy Maduzia
