On Thursday, 27 April 2023, interested female pupils from Leipzig and Markkleeberg had the opportunity to get a taste of a chemist’s daily work at our faculty. The girls experienced a tour through several different areas of our chemical research, organised by doctoral researchers of our research training group.
After a brief introduction by the head of the faculty’s office of study affairs, Dr. Sina Gruschinski, the participants performed experiments in the laboratories of the group of Prof. Detlev Belder. In a vivid and fun way, they were introduced to the fundamental principles of analytical chemistry, microfluidics and the idea of Jantje’s project: microfluidic scintillation detection of tritium. In a very tight racing challenge, the students faced a flow reaction on a microchip to determine who could find the exit of a maze quicker – the girls or the liquid. Their insight into the analytical laboratories ended with a tasty experiment, where vanilla sauce found its way through channels in coloured jelly.
The next stop was in the rooms of the lecture preparation. The participants learned what it takes to perform an experimental lecture. In addition to careers that involve studying chemistry, they were introduced to the option of training as a chemical laboratory technician.
After that, another important part of our daily life at the faculty was shown to them as they visited the glassblowing workshop. They saw the many faces of glassware that are used during experimental work. Some demonstrations of the production and repair of glassware were of course not to be missed.
The last stop was at the Institute for Inorganic Chemistry. In the group of Prof. Harald Krautscheid, Sibo gave them a tour of the laboratories demonstrating the morphology and thermochromic behavior of crystalline compounds. The visit ended with a demonstration of some fun properties of liquid nitrogen.
After gaining all these impressions, the girls had the chance to ask several questions about student internships and studying chemistry in a Q&A session.
We would like to thank all participants for their interest in our faculty and all our participating colleagues, especially Jantje and Marie, for making this event possible!
