Nano experimentation course for Zurich teachers at Vetropack AG in Bülach

Starting this school year, secondary schools in the canton of Zurich will be provided with over 1000 "SimplyNano 2" experiment kits free of charge. The suitcases are a new learning medium compatible with curriculum 21, with 32 exciting experiments, a learning workshop and all the necessary documentation, chemicals and materials. The "SimplyNano 2" project, is funded by the Lottery Fund of the Canton of Zurich and a broad sponsorship of companies, associations and foundations. The canton of Zurich is already the fifth canton in which the suitcases are being used throughout the upper school classes.

Nano experiments with a "wow" effect

Nanotechnology is the science of the very small. Nanomaterials are not only found in science, but also in many everyday products such as cosmetics and textiles or in technology applications, e.g. in medicine. With the harmless and amazing experiments, students discover, among other things, how baby diapers with "superabsorbers" absorb extremely large amounts of liquid, how the "memory effect" works with metals, e.g., in braces, or how geckos with nano-structures on their feet can climb up walls.

Nano courses for teachers offer insights into technology companies

Accompanying half-day introductory courses are offered for teachers. Recently, such a course was held with 12 Zurich secondary school teachers at the company Vetropack AG in Bülach. The participants were able to experiment and at the same time gain an insight into an industrial company. Vetropack is one of the leading manufacturers of glass packaging in Europe and employs around 4000 people at 11 locations worldwide. As a manufacturing company in the consumer goods sector, Vetropack relies on well-trained specialists and apprentices, as Marc Kuster, Manager Glass Recycling and practical trainer, emphasized. "We are interested in raising young people's awareness of technology at an early stage, because well-trained employees are a key resource for the company," said Kuster. For example, apprentices in Bülach are trained to recycle glass in the Vetrorecyling department. Because glass is 100% recyclable, the starting material used in the manufacture of glass packaging at Vetropack Group currently consists of around 53% waste glass, and this figure is rising. Recycling thus makes a key contribution to saving energy and CO2.

Promoting enthusiasm for technology throughout Switzerland

The "SimplyNano 2" experimental kit was developed by Innovationsgesellschaft, a St.Gallen-based start-up company, and is published by the SimplyScience Foundation. The non-profit foundation aims to get children and young people interested in scientific and technical topics. The suitcase is already being used across five cantons and will gradually be made available in all secondary schools throughout Switzerland over the next few years. Further information at: www.simplynano.ch

Broad sponsorship of the Zurich Nano project

The "SimplyNano 2" project in the canton of Zurich is supported by the following partners:

• Adrian Weiss Foundation
• Amgen Switzerland AG
• Asuera Foundation
• Bärbel & Paul Geissbühler Foundation
• Baugarten Zurich
• Bülach Industries
• Burckhardt Compression AG
• The Mobiliar
• Fondation Dimitris N. Chorafas
• Dow Chemical Switzerland AG
• Georg and Bertha Schwyzer-Winiker Foundation
• Ernst Göhner Foundation
• Geistlich Pharma AG
• Helmut Fischer Foundation,
• Givaudan AG
• Grütli Foundation
• Hans Eggenberger Foundation
• Migros Culture Percentage
• Lottery Fund of the Canton of Zurich
• Pfizer Switzerland AG
• Rotary Club Zurich
• SwissLife Foundation Perspectives
• Syngenta AG
• Tecan AG
• Vetropack AG
• various Rotary Clubs
• Zurich Chamber of Commerce

Contact:

Dr. Christoph Meili, The Innovation Society, Lerchenfeldstr. 3, CH - 9014 St. Gallen Tel: +41 (0)71 278 02 06
christoph.meili@innovationsgesellschaft.ch

Source: Innovation Society

Image Source: Innovation Society