Litvínov, 27 February 2018 – The city of Litvínov, the Unipetrol Foundation and the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague organised a fun chemical show for over 400 students from Litvínov and the surrounding area called A Fun day with chemistry. The purpose of this event, which was held in the Citadela House of Culture, was to present chemicals to primary school students and comprehensive schools in an entertaining manner and show them that chemistry is a modern and attractive subject, which affords an infinite number of discoveries and a great opportunity for future employment.
“Our region has been closely linked to industrial and particularly chemical production for over eighty years. If we want to retain young people in our region, we must provide them with interesting perspectives for their development. And chemistry is certainly one of these perspectives,“ Kamila Bláhová, Mayor of the City of Litvínov, who was one of the initiators of the entire event, said.
“We support secondary schools and universities and their students, but we are also aware that interest in chemistry is decided at primary school. And because children today are more demanding in relation to the manner in which you provide them with information, we tried this concept, which is not only popularly educational, but also entertaining,“ Tomáš Herink, member of the Unipetrol Foundation administrative board, explained the reason for holding the chemistry show.
Three popularisers of chemistry were the main stars of the entertaining afternoon for students aged thirteen years and over. Michael Londesborough, an English scientist from the Academy of Sciences, presented a whole series of unexpected and funny rules of natural sciences, which affect our daily lives without us being aware of it, with his colleagues Jan Havlík and Jiří Dolanský.
Students of the Prague comprehensive school Nový PORG – Jakub Smékal, Adam Bělohlávek and Milan Cabrnoch, attracted a lot of interest from the children. They brought a unique robot from Prague with them, which they had assembled and with which they competed in the USA. The entire afternoon was moderated by TV Prima presenter Lucie Špaková and fifteen-year old Matěj Vlček, who the children know from the Czech Television programme Wifina.
The programme also included a competition for a new 3D printer, which was won by Sportovní soukromá základní škola from Litvínov. A total of nine teams played at chemistry Cinderella when they tried to separate sand, iron filings and balls of molecular sieve mixed together in the shortest possible time. Only water, a magnet, a paper plate, a sieve, a spoon and a plastic bag were available for separating the materials. “The event was a success and the children loved it. I hope that it will help us increase our students’ interest in natural science subjects and particularly chemistry. It is naturally much easier to work with motivated and inspired children,“ said Pavel Škramlík, Head of the Private Sports Primary School in Litvínov.
Information about the Unipetrol Foundation
The Unipetrol Foundation commenced its activities on 27 December 2016. The foundation fulfils its purpose, to support students of natural science and technical subjects and popularise natural sciences, in the field of scholarship programmes and paid residencies for students and also in the field of grant programmes intended for secondary schools. The chairman of the administrative board of the Unipetrol Foundation is Andrzej Modrzejewski, Managing Director of the Unipetrol Group. Other members are Karel Melzoch, Chancellor of the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague, and Tomáš Herink, member of the Board of Directors of the Unipetrol Group responsible for research and development. Julie Růžičková is the director of the Foundation. You can find more information about the Unipetrol Foundation and its individual programmes on the website at
www.nadaceunipetrol.cz.
University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague
The University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague is a natural centre of first-rate studies and research in the field of chemistry. It is one of the biggest educational and research institutions focusing on technical chemistry, chemical and biochemical technology, material and chemical engineering, food industry and the environment. The University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague has maintained a long-standing ranking in the 4% best universities in the world. Each student has the opportunity to be involved in his/her choice of science project and go on educational stays abroad. A diploma from the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague is a ticket to prestigious, highly compensated employment at home and abroad.
Contact:Julie Růžičková, Unipetrol Foundation coordinator, e-mail:
info@nadaceunipetrol.cz, telephone: +420 736 508 393