On 15.03.2019, at the Department of Functional Materials and Biomaterials, as part of the promotional campaign ZUT "The Power of Researchers", workshop for post-gymnasium school students has been organized. The Department was visited by two groups of high school students from the Polish Nobel Prize Laureates School Complex in Myślibórz and the Secondary School Complex in memory of the Victims of Terrorism on September 11, 2001. A total of 67 high school students, divided into 6 smaller 11-12-person teams took part in the workshops. Visitors had the opportunity to get acquainted with the synthesis of polymers, processing of materials and evaluation of physicochemical and biological properties. They also learned about specialized instrumental techniques. High school students have learned about the polarization and stereoscopic microscopy, 3D printing, photocrosslinking, electrospinning, hot-compression and extrusion, calorimetric techniques and measurements of wettability (contact angle) of materials. During the practical workshops the high school students, under the supervision of the students of the Faculty from the Students Scientific Club "Alpha Reactive" presented the method of preparation of polymer hydrogels from poly (vinyl alcohol) and the preparation of microcapsules from natural polymers with closed yeast cells inside. During the presentations, the students had the opportunity to prepare PVA hydrogels and participate in an automated process of obtaining alginate microcapsules, which were then used in the process of fermentation of sucrose.
Division staff involved in the promotional campaign: Dr. Ewa Wiśniewska, Dr. Agata Goszczyńska, Dr. Marta Piątek-Hnat, Dr. Piotr Sobolewski, M.Sc. Wojciech Ignaczak.
