Young people delve into the hidden world of molecules

"Materials for Future - from molecules to materials" - is the motto for 18 participants in the MINT-EC camp from Germany and Bulgaria. For one week, they are learning and researching at the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU).

The 16- to 18-year-old high school students will come from Bremen, Ulm, Goslar, Sofia, Forst or Remagen, for example, to deepen their knowledge, acquire new knowledge and, above all, to experiment among like-minded young people with an interest in science at the Senftenberg campus from June 27 to July 1, 2022.

"The Alphabet of Elements," "Application Potentials of Microalgae," or "Highly Porous Materials" are just a few of the topics taught by BTU scientists that characterize the program in addition to the intensive practical group work in the laboratory. Just as exciting is the fact that the students are in the midst of everyday student life on campus. Through contact with students, they gain insights into the study programs in materials chemistry and biotechnology and get to know student life during beach volleyball, barbecues, excursions into the surrounding area and in the dormitory.

The students already learned about the excellent career prospects available to them after successfully completing their studies during a visit to BASF Schwarzheide GmbH.

The BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg and the national excellence school network MINT-EC jointly organize the camp. To participate, the students had to apply with a letter of motivation and were selected from more than 50 interested participants.

The scientific management of the MINT-EC camp is in the hands of Prof. Dr. Peer Schmidt, the vice president of the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg for studies and teaching, who represents the field of inorganic chemistry at the university and was able to inspire the camp participants, for example, with his experimental lecture "Chemistry of Fire". "The current camp is another step in bringing our 2021 partnership with the national excellence school network MINT-EC to life," emphasizes the BTU vice president. "I'm pleased to have such curious and highly motivated participants on campus, to live up to the motto "Materials for Future - from molecules to materials" with a high practical content in our laboratories, and at the same time to whet students' appetites for our degree programs."

Praise for the successful MINT-EC camp also comes from the young people. Gabriela Lozanova (17) from Sofia says: "My time here has been very nice so far. I particularly like the professors' lectures, which are very structured. Especially the topic of microalgae has fascinated me. Also great is the community and the friendliness. Already upon arrival, the students of the university took care of us and I feel very accepted. I could well imagine studying here later, I have biotechnology in mind above all." Felix Grünberg (17) from Ulm likes "the knowledge-rich inputs" and especially the internship. "I was assigned to the group with the topic of lithium batteries, which I'm glad about now. I wouldn't have chosen the topic myself, but I'm surprised that I'm having so much fun with the experiments. I just love learning new things, which is definitely the case here." He also highlights the good interaction: "It feels like we've known each other forever."

Before the students* are allowed to take home their final certificates as proof of their successful participation in the MINT-EC camp, they will still present the results of their internships in five groups in presentations.

This project was supported by:
BASF Schwarzheide GmbH, Schipkauer Straße 1, 01987 Schwarzheide, Deutschland
Verband der Chemischen Industrie e.V., Landesverband Nordost, Lietzenburger Str. 51, 10789 Berlin
Institut für Umwelttechnik und Recycling Senftenberg e.V. (IURS e.V.), c/o BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, Universitätsplatz 1, 01968 Senftenberg

Background
Since October 20, 2021, BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg has been an official university partner of the national excellence school network MINT-EC of schools with upper secondary education and an outstanding mathematics, science and technology school profile. The official partnership is the result of the university's existing intensive cooperation with the network, which is under the auspices of the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs. One of the main tasks of MINT-EC is to inspire students to take up STEM courses, to establish cooperation networks between schools, companies, universities and research institutions, and to provide further training for STEM teachers. The goals of the partnership between MINT-EC and the BTU are, in particular, to support students from schools with a focus on the natural sciences and technology in their decision to study by familiarizing them with study opportunities in the STEM subjects and to attract prospective students to study STEM subjects at the BTU.

Specialist contact

Kathrin Erdmann
ZE Zentrum für Studierendengewinnung und Studienvorbereitung (College)
T +49 (0) 3573 85226
erdmann(at)b-tu.de

Press contact

Ralf-Peter Witzmann
Stabsstelle Kommunikation und Marketing
T +49 (0) 3573 85-283
ralf-peter.witzmann(at)b-tu.de
Participants in the MINT-EC camp experimenting. Photo: Steffen Rasche
Students follow a lecture at the BTU as part of the MINT-EC camp. Photo: Steffen Rasche
Gabriela Lozanova from Sofia at the MINT-EC-Camp at the BTU. Photo: Steffen Rasche
Felix Grünberg from Ulm. Photo: Steffen Rasche