Teacher training at Syngenta: "Simply Nano" - experiential workshop with 37 experiments
The life sciences sector in Switzerland lacks applicants for apprenticeships, especially for laboratory professions. To arouse interest in STEM subjects among young people, Syngenta in Stein supports the project with experimental kits and provides space for teacher training.
As an interdisciplinary educational project, SimplyNano promotes the teaching of STEM subjects (mathematics, information technology, natural sciences and technology) in lower and upper secondary schools. The core element of the project is formed by two experimental kits sponsored by Syngenta and other partners. The experimental kits contain an experiential workshop with 37 experiments on nanotechnology, which are aligned with Curriculum 21 and enable students to gain knowledge in an experiential way.
Because of their special properties, nanomaterials are found in many technical materials but also in many everyday products such as cosmetics, textiles, paints or in medicine. With the harmless and amazing experiments, the learners discover, among other things, how baby nappies with "super absorbers" absorb extremely large amounts of liquid, why geckos with nano-structures on their feet climb up walls or how the "memory effect" works with metals in braces and medical stents. "Thus, the experiments show the fascinating world of the smallest particles and present concrete applications in products and materials," writes Syngenta.
As a Gold Project Partner, Syngenta also supports the continuing education programme for teachers. In the courses, teachers receive an introduction to the learning media in the suitcases, carry out the experiments themselves and receive didactic and methodological tips for using the suitcases in the classroom with references to Curriculum 21. Syngenta sees its role in the project as a bridging function: "As a global research and development-oriented company with Switzerland as its main location, we naturally have a great interest in supporting STEM subject education in this country as much as possible," says Regina Ammann, who heads Public Affairs Switzerland at Syngenta and has supported the education project since its inception. "Our company delivers innovations for agriculture that are sustainable and safe for people and the environment, and help to secure the world's food supply. In order to continue to meet this goal in the future, we need passionately interested, scientifically well-educated, young people with alert minds and creative ideas. That is why our commitment also makes a significant contribution to promoting young talent in Switzerland as a location for research and development."
In addition to funding the contents of the suitcases, Syngenta also makes a significant contribution to the further training of teaching staff by providing access to its research and development site in Stein/AG. Since 2018, the site has been an integral part for project training courses. (mgt)
Source: Neue Fricktaler Zeitung - Lehrerausbildung bei Syngenta
Image Source: Metaprodutions GmbH - Elias Kaiser