The SimplyNano 2 advanced training course was held on November 23, 2022 at the Model AG site in Niedergösgen. Michael Wilms, the plant manager, gave an engaging presentation about the company, the production of paper from waste cardboard and the various apprenticeships at MODEL AG. Afterwards, we went on a short but very impressive tour of the paper mill’s production halls.

In the second part, the actual “SimplyNano 2” training course took place. After a short theoretical part, the teachers examined the superabsorber and e.g. the question of why the baby remains dry. After a short coffee break, the teachers conducted a workshop post run with six different work posts. They learned about the gecko effect, the Salvinia effect, and the Tyndall effect, among others. All phenomena from the nanoworld. In addition, they investigated e.g. Nickel-titanium alloys, which are used as memory metals in various high-tech materials in medicine because they have shape memory.

At the end of the course, each participant received a free SimplyNano 2 experiment kit including learning workshop and USB stick. The feedback from the teachers was very positive. The combination of experimentation course and company visit was particularly appreciated. Keywords such as “practical implementation on site” and “friendly and conducive to learning” are just two of the positive feedbacks.

As part of the SimplyNano 2 project in Northwestern Switzerland, all secondary schools in the cantons of BS, BL and SO will be equipped with class sets of a total of 900 “SimpylNano 2” cases. Various companies are visited as part of the continuing education courses. Model AG supports the SimplyNano 2 project as a Bronze Partner www.simplynano.ch/projekt/nw-ch/.

Publication: Innovation Society

Image source: Innovation Society