Excellent Participation in the IQS Summer Camp Aimed at Secondary School Baccalaureate Science Students
Within the framework of the URL Summer University, IQS held the Summer Camp “Experiment and learn: chemical analysis of food, water, and cosmetic products” between 11 to 14 July, aimed at first- and second-year secondary school baccalaureate students in the science track.
Within the framework of the URL Summer University, IQS held the Summer Camp “Experiment and learn: chemical analysis of food, water, and cosmetic products” between 11 to 14 July, aimed at first- and second-year secondary school baccalaureate students in the science track.
Over the course of four days, participants were able to learn about Analytical Chemistry techniques by experimenting directly in the IQS laboratories and using the most advanced analytical equipment available in these laboratories. Divided into different groups, they were able to perform the following experiments in concrete: analysis of chlorides in isotonic beverages by means of a potentiometric titration; analysis of proteins in nut samples by means of a Kjeldahl extraction; analysis of caffeine in energy drinks by means of liquid chromatography (HPLC-UV); analysis of fats in industrial pastry samples by means of a Soxhlet extraction; analysis of scents by means of gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS); and analysis of sunscreens with UV-Vis spectrophotometry.
The Summer Camp was led by Dr Pepa Blanco, Head of the Department of Analytical and Applied Chemistry at IQS, and directed by Dr Victoria Codera and doctoral student Mar Losada from within the same department. In order to properly function, and considering the intensive use of the laboratories, spots were limited and fully reserved.
The students who participated in the Summer Camp came from the following public and subsidized private schools throughout Catalonia: Aula Escuela Europea (Barcelona), IES Comte de Rius (Tarragona), IES de Auro (Santpedor), IES de Bruguers (Gavà), IES Duc de Montblanc (Rubí), IES Icaria (Barcelona), IES Leopoldo Querol (Vinarós), IES Vinyes Velles (Montornés del Vallés), La Vall (Bellaterra), Verge dels Àngels (Barcelona), Monlau (Barcelona), Montcau La Mola (Matadepera), Pineda (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat), San Gregori (Barcelona), Santa Teresa de Jesús-Ganduxer (Barcelona), Santa Teresa de Lisieux (Barcelona), and Tecnos (Terrassa).