New edition of the IQS Summer Camp for scientific high school 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 9 to 12 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 Oriol Rojas 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: Col.legi Badalonés (Badalona), Escola Mª de Déu dels Àngels (Barcelona), Frederic Mistral – Tècnic Eulàlia (Barcelona), Sagrada Família – Sant Andreu (Barcelona), IES Les Marines (Castelldefels), IES Mediterrànea (Castelldefels), Col.legi Alemany (Esplugues de Llobregat), Sagrada Família (Gavà), Bell-lloch del Pla (Girona), Montessori-Palau (Girona), Escola Pia de Granollers, Escola Joviat (Igualada), Europa International School (Sant Cugat del Vallès), Viaró Global School (Sant Cugat del Vallès), IES Alba del Vallès (Sant Fost de Campsentelles), IES Santa Eulàlia (Terrassa) and IES Josep Sagrelles (València).