As an interdisciplinary educational project, SimplyNano promotes the teaching of STEM subjects (mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology) in lower and upper secondary schools. The core element of the project is two experimental kits sponsored by Syngenta and other partners. The experimental kits contain an experiential workshop with 37 experiments on nanotechnology, which is aligned with Curriculum 21 and enables 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, learners discover, among other things, how baby diapers with “superabsorbers” absorb extremely large amounts of liquid, why geckos with nanostructures on their feet climb up walls, or how the “memory effect” works with metals in braces and medical stents. “In this way, the experiments show the fascinating world of the smallest particles and present concrete applications in products and materials,” Syngenta writes.
As a Gold Project Partner, Syngenta also supports the continuing education program for teachers. In the courses, teachers receive an introduction to the learning media in the cases, carry out the experiments themselves and receive didactic and methodological advice on how to use the cases 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-trained, young people with an alert mind 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 suitcase, Syngenta also makes a significant contribution to the 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. (mgt)
Source: Neue Fricktaler Zeitung – Teacher training at Syngenta
Image source: Metaproductions GmbH – Elias Kaiser