500 nano experimental kits for schools in the canton of Aargau
Brugg / Zürich. The new „SimplyNano 2“ experimental kit on nanotechnology will be available in all secondary schools in the canton of Aargau by autumn 2018. This is intended to get the students enthusiastic about science and technology and to contribute to the promotion of young talents in technology. The Aargau is the first canton in Switzerland to adopt this new learning medium for all schools throughout the canton. Other cantons are to follow.
Nano Experiments at school
Nanotechnology – the science of tiny things – is regarded as a technology of the future. Whether in everyday products such as sun creams, in state-of-the-art medicine or in industrial products, nanotechnology is to be found everywhere. The subject of nanotechnology will now be taught in schools. Starting from school year 2018/2019, the “SimplyNano 2” experimental kit will be available in all secondary schools in the canton of Aargau. The experimental kit is a new learning medium with 32 exciting nano experiments and accompanying documents, chemicals and materials. As part of the introduction of the experimental kits, 500 experimental kits will be made available to schools in Aargau. The Aargau is thereby the first canton in Switzerland to adopt the experimental kit in secondary schools throughout the canton. To enable the use of the experimental kit in classroom, starting in May, half-day teacher training courses are offered. The project is funded by companies, associations, foundations and the Swisslos-Fonds of the canton of Aargau.
Promotion of junior staff and competitiveness
At the media conference at the Hightech Zentrum Aargau in Brugg the Landammann and director of education of the canton of Aargau Alex Hürzeler emphasized the significance of new technologies for the canton of Aargau. He pointed out that it is no coincidence that the canton of Aargau supports the distribution of the „SimplyNano 2“ experimental kit. The canton of Aargau has proven its affinity to nanotechnology for some time and today a growing number of companies in Aargau use nanotechnology. Hürzeler described „SimplyNano 2“ as an innovative and trendsetting project, which will arouse the interest of the students for this exciting technology. Furthermore, the experimental kit can illustrate „possible professional fields in the MINT-fields and contribute to the career choice process in students“. He was very pleased about the fact that the project was met with a great and positive response from the industry.
Nanotechnology in baby diapers and in medicine
The „SimplyNano 2“ experimental kit is published by the SimplyScience Stiftung as Marcel Sennhauser, Vice President of the foundation, elaborated. The foundation wants to promote the understanding of science and technology among children and young people with cool teaching materials. Christoph Meili, Managing Director of the Innovation Society and developer of the experimental kit, introduced the concept and individual experiments. It is about enabling the students to connect their observations to knowledge and daily products. The students learn, for example, why the baby diapers stay dry, how memory metals work and what role they play in state-of-the-art medicine. The students can also produce silver nanoparticles and research their germ-killing effect.
Speakers at the„SimplyNano 2“ media conference: (f.l.t.r. Christoph Meili, Marcel Sennhauser, Landammann Alex Hürzeler (experimenting), Beat Bachmann)
The „SimplyNano 2“ experimental kit can be used within the scope of the competence-oriented “Lehrplan 21”. Further information about the project (in German): http://innovationsgesellschaft.ch/aargau
The project is funded by:
