As part of the Universitat Ramon Llull’s (URL) Universitat d’Estiu, IQS held the third edition of its Summer Camp «Experience and learn: chemical analysis of food, water and cosmetic products» from 7 to 10 July, a training programme aimed at first- and second-year Scientific Baccalaureate students that once again proved extremely popular, with every place fully booked.
Over four days, participants had the chance to discover the world of Analytical Chemistry first-hand through an intensely practical experience in IQS’s laboratories. The programme allowed them to work with advanced analytical equipment and to become familiar with techniques commonly used in both research and professional practice.
The sessions were structured around a series of experimental practicals that introduced students to a range of analytical methodologies. Among other activities, they determined the chloride content of isotonic drinks by potentiometric titration; analysed proteins in nut samples using the Kjeldahl method; quantified caffeine in energy drinks using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-UV); determined the fat content of industrial pastry products by Soxhlet extraction; identified essences by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS); and studied the effectiveness of various sun creams using UV-Vis spectrophotometry.
The activity was led by Dr Pepa Blanco, Head of IQS’s Department of Analytical and Applied Chemistry, and coordinated by Dr Victòria Codera, with the involvement of doctoral researchers Laura Angulo and Oriol Rojas, both from the same department.
The hands-on nature of the programme, together with direct access to state-of-the-art laboratories and analytical equipment, makes this Summer Camp a unique experience for pre-university students interested in the experimental sciences. The fact that this third edition was fully booked confirms young people’s growing interest in approaching chemistry from an applied perspective and in getting a close-up view of university education and scientific research.
Students taking part in the Summer Camp came from the following schools, both state and grant-maintained: Colegio Sant Josep (Sant Sadurní d’Anoia), Cooperativa Sant Gervasi (Mollet del Vallès), Escola Pia de Vilanova i la Geltrú, Europa International School of Barcelona (Sant Cugat del Vallès), Escola Galí Bellesguard (Barcelona), IES Domènech i Muntaner (Canet de Mar), IES Ponts, IES Sa Colomina (Ibiza), IES Forat del Vent (Cerdanyola del Vallès), IES Marianao (Sant Boi de Llobregat), IES Vescomtat de Cabrera (Hostalric), IES Pere Ribot (Vilassar de Mar), IES Isidor Macabich (Ibiza), Lycée Français de Barcelona, Pare Manyanet-Les Corts (Barcelona), Sant Marc de Sarrià (Barcelona), Stucom (Barcelona) and Vedruna Vall Terrassa.