ChemTeach Summer School 2025: Environmental Chemistry Focus (August 25-29, 2025)
The ChemTeach project will host an intensive summer school focused on environmental chemistry from August 25-29, 2025, in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina. This educational program brings together 23 students and 10 teachers from partner institutions across Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Program Structure
The five-day program combines hands-on laboratory work, field sampling, industry visits, and student presentations to provide comprehensive exposure to environmental chemistry applications.
Day 1 (August 25): Students begin with Vrbas River water sampling and laboratory preparation work, including solution preparation and dissolved oxygen analysis using the Winkler method.
Day 2 (August 26): The program features the "Materials without borders" conference with student presentations, poster sessions, and networking opportunities. Students present their research projects and participate in academic discussions with peers and faculty.
Day 3 (August 27): An industry excursion provides students with real-world exposure to quality control laboratories and discussions with practicing engineers, bridging academic learning with industrial applications.
Day 4 (August 28): Students complete comprehensive laboratory analyses and prepare final presentations that summarize their findings from the water quality assessments conducted throughout the week.
Day 5 (August 29): The program concludes with a cultural excursion to Jajce, providing participants with regional cultural exposure.
Laboratory Focus
Students work in four teams analyzing different water samples: Vrbas River water, tap water, bottled still water, and bottled sparkling water. Laboratory activities include comprehensive water quality parameter determination:
- Dissolved oxygen analysis using the classical Winkler method
- Chemical and biochemical oxygen demand measurements
- Total dissolved solids and suspended solids analysis
- Chloride determination using the Mohr method
- Water hardness and alkalinity assessments
- Organic matter content evaluation
International Participation
The program includes participants from seven partner institutions:
- University of Banja Luka (2 teachers)
- Three Banja Luka secondary schools (13 students, 3 teachers)
- Slovak University of Technology Bratislava (3 teachers)
- Secondary Vocational School of Chemistry Bratislava (4 students, 1 teacher)
- Upper Secondary School of Chemistry Pardubice (6 students, 1 teacher)
Educational Outcomes
The summer school emphasizes practical skills development through real environmental sample analysis, industry exposure, and peer collaboration. Daily self-assessments track student progress and program effectiveness, while the combination of theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience prepares students for careers in environmental chemistry and related fields.
This intensive program represents a key component of the ChemTeach project's mission to enhance chemistry education quality in vocational training across the participating regions.
Disclaimer
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
