Twenty-nine young people from all over Bavaria were invited to the Gendorf plant's industrial park in Burgkirchen for the state qualifying round of the Chemical Olympics at the start of February. At Dyneon GmbH, a subsidiary of 3M Deutschland GmbH, which operates there, the grammar schoolchildren gained an insight into the everyday practices of the global chemical firm.
According to a representative summary by one student following the two-day state seminar: "We were given insights into topics that are only touched on very briefly in class." After the company presentation by Dyneon Production Manager Dr Albert Killich, the chemical Olympians listened to presentations from further managers involved in research and production of fluorpolymers and their application, about environmental aspects and safety at work. A seminar programme at Dyneon was finished off by a tour of the company. "My conclusion about the Chemical Olympics: We really received the elite of Bavaria's chemical grammar schoolchildren. I was very impressed by the lively exchange and interesting questions," Dr Killich explains and goes on to add: "The students picked up and asked about the culture of innovation and the versatile technology platforms at 3M time and again."
For the students, the state seminar at the Gendorf plant was already the third qualifying round after successfully participating in the two first stages in the selection process. Finally, the last four German participants, who will go to Moscow to the final stage of the International Chemical Olympics in July 2013, were decided. There, they will measure their performance by working through theoretic and experimental exercises. The aim is to forge international links in the field of school chemistry, but also between the budding scientists.
According to a representative summary by one student following the two-day state seminar: "We were given insights into topics that are only touched on very briefly in class." After the company presentation by Dyneon Production Manager Dr Albert Killich, the chemical Olympians listened to presentations from further managers involved in research and production of fluorpolymers and their application, about environmental aspects and safety at work. A seminar programme at Dyneon was finished off by a tour of the company. "My conclusion about the Chemical Olympics: We really received the elite of Bavaria's chemical grammar schoolchildren. I was very impressed by the lively exchange and interesting questions," Dr Killich explains and goes on to add: "The students picked up and asked about the culture of innovation and the versatile technology platforms at 3M time and again."
For the students, the state seminar at the Gendorf plant was already the third qualifying round after successfully participating in the two first stages in the selection process. Finally, the last four German participants, who will go to Moscow to the final stage of the International Chemical Olympics in July 2013, were decided. There, they will measure their performance by working through theoretic and experimental exercises. The aim is to forge international links in the field of school chemistry, but also between the budding scientists.
