Chemistry
The course
The Chemistry course from the Crazy about Science programme of the Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation is a course developed by the Catalan Institute for Chemical Research (ICIQ) aimed at 1st year A-Level students with a special interest and talent in chemistry. The basic objective of this project is to foster the scientific vocation of these young people, as well as to enhance their enthusiasm for chemistry and research.
The course will be held for 13 Saturdays from 24 January 2020 to 12 December 2020 at the ICIQ facilities.
The course will cover 12 different chemistry topics, including major chemical reactions, presented by ICIQ doctoral and postdoctoral students. In addition, in each session a senior researcher from the centre will give a one-hour talk.
This course combines theory sessions and hands-on experimental activities. Each session will be divided into four parts:
- Theoretical talk on a specific topic
- Seminar given by a principal researcher of the centre
- Practices related to a characterisation technique
- Practical visualisation using chemical experiments
The idea of introducing students to basic scientific research routines and methods will be greatly strengthened. To achieve this, students will be allowed to question their ideas, contrast them, and move on to more elaborate concepts and schemes through various chemical experiments that they will have to design and carry out.
Students will also take a brief look at the history of chemistry through 21 characters that they will have to recreate.
Catalan and English will be used equally, so a good knowledge of English is required.
Registration for the Crazy about Chemistry course will be open from 16 September to 24 October 2019 and among all those enrolled 21 students will be selected from 1st year of A-Levels to participate in this edition of the course within the 8th edition of the Crazy about Science programme that will take place in 2020.
Specific objectives
Students who have the opportunity to participate in the course:
- They will experience the scientific method first-hand in an international research centre
- They will improve their knowledge of scientific theory and techniques in the field of chemistry
- They will work with young professional scientists who will assist and guide them in the process
- They will have a clear vision for deciding if they want to pursue a career related to the chemical sciences
- In the last sessions, they will develop an "Artificial photosynthesis” project
Academic studies
- It encourages young people in scientific vocations linked to the world of chemistry, helping to guide their academic and professional futures.
- It provides the opportunity for your A-Level Research Project to be tutored by a leading research centre.
Sessions
Day: Friday 24 January 2020
Opening hours: 5 pm to 8 pm
Location: ICIQ, Avinguda dels Països Catalans, 16, Tarragona
Session coordination: Dr. Laia Pellejà
Session given by: Dr. Patricia Llanes, Dr. Esther Alza and Dr. Laia Pellejà
Language: Catalan and English
Visit to a research laboratory and visit to a spin-off of the centre. Presentation by the director of the ICIQ, the programme team and the students. Delivery of dossiers, scientific articles and explanation of the operation of the sessions.
Day: Saturday 1 February 2020
Opening hours: 9:30 am to 4:30 pm
Location: ICIQ, Avinguda dels Països Catalans, 16, Tarragona
Session coordination: Dr. Laia Pellejà
Session given by: Dr. Marta Giménez, Dr. Alicia Monleón, Dr. Ángel Mudarra and Dr. Laia Pellejà
Language: Catalan
Theory: Chemical reaction technologies, pH, volumetry.
Lab practices: Drug pH, Homemade Indicators, Rainbow Cabbage experiment, Curry and red fruits, phenolphthalein surprises and acidity of vinegar.
Day: Saturday 15 February 2020
Opening hours: 9:30 am to 4:30 pm
Location: ICIQ, Avinguda dels Països Catalans, 16, Tarragona
Session coordination: Dr. Laia Pellejà
Session given by: Prof. Anton Vidal and Dr. Laia Pellejà
Language: Catalan and English
Theory: Chirality and ligands for catalysis, catalysis and acid-base reactions.
Laboratory practices: Vase Genius, deconstruction of oxygenated water, an oscillating reaction, kinetics of hydrogen peroxide reduction by iodide ions, a visible activated complex, volcano eruption I, egg deconstruction, mosquitoes, colour of vegetables, hard unboiled egg, yellow bananas.
Day: Saturday 7 March 2020
Opening hours: 9.30am to 4.30pm
Location: ICIQ, Avinguda dels Països Catalans, 16, Tarragona
Session coordination: Dr. Laia Pellejà
Session given by: Dr. Mónica Pérez-Temprano, Dr. Jordi Benet and Dr. Laia Pellejà
Language: Catalan, Spanish and English
Theory: Lakes, lego, and secrets of chemical reactions and X-ray diffraction.
Laboratory practices: Transform wine into water, coloured pots, not cooking anymore, tracks that disappear, purifying water, chameleons, chemical traffic lights and invisible ink.
Day: Saturday 21 March 2020
Opening hours: 9:30 am to 4:30 pm
Location: ICIQ, Avinguda dels Països Catalans, 16, Tarragona
Session coordination: Dr. Laia Pellejà
Session given by: Dr. Marcos Suero, Dr. Alicia Monleón, Dr. Ángel Mudarra and Dr. Laia Pellejà
Language: Catalan, Spanish and English
Theory: The world of redox, precipitation reactions and non-Newtonian fluids.
Laboratory practices: Creating stalagmites, do I heat or cool?, transforming bubbles with dust, moving sand, what kind of pill do we have? Getting colours, vegetable pigments, the chemical waiter and powerful sulphuric acid.
Day: Saturday 4 April 2020
Opening hours: 9:30 am to 4:30 pm
Location: ICIQ, Avinguda dels Països Catalans, 16, Tarragona
Session coordination: Dr. Laia Pellejà
Session given by: Dr. Alicia Monleón, Dr. Ángel Mudarra and Dr. Laia Pellejà
Language: English
Oral presentations of scientific articles: Each student will submit a scientific article.
Day: Saturday 25 April 2020
Opening hours: 9:30 am to 4:30 pm
Location: ICIQ, Avinguda dels Països Catalans, 16, Tarragona
Session coordination: Dr. Laia Pellejà
Session given by: Dr. Mariona Urtasun and Dr. Laia Pellejà
Language: Catalan and English
Theory: Spectrometric techniques, dehydration and saponification reactions.
Laboratory practices: Sugar worm, fried egg without fire, much more than water, food starch, soap making, playing CSI and rusty coins.
Day: Saturday 9 May 2020
Opening hours: 9:30 am to 4:30 pm
Location: ICIQ, Avinguda dels Països Catalans, 16, Tarragona
Session coordination: Dr. Laia Pellejà
Session given by: Prof. Atsushi Urakawa, Dr. Simona Curelli and Dr. Laia Pellejà
Language: Spanish and English
Theory: Pressure reactions, chromatography.
Laboratory practices: 1 + 1 = 2, do we not know how to add?, jump ball, deconstructing a porexpan, manufacture of nylon and rayon, bursting a balloon and superabsorption.
Collaborating entities
The Catalan Institute of Chemical Research (ICIQ) aims to promote and carry out research of excellence in chemistry. The institute aims to produce, promote and share knowledge, as well as train technical and scientific personnel in chemistry, transfer technology to industry, facilitate contact between basic and applied research and establish collaborations between the ICIQ and companies.
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