ChemistryLab Gadolin at the University of Helsinki’s Department of Chemistry is an authentic, fully-equipped laboratory entirely dedicated to pre-school and school groups and developing chemistry education. In the Gadolin concept schools, academia and the business sector work together to build positive attitudes towards chemistry.
Imagine a science field trip to a state-of-the art laboratory in an authentic environment including cool hands-on experiments, interaction with real-life researchers and guaranteed student engagement in chemistry. Imagine that this field trip is free of charge, with all instructions and protocols freely available online for future classroom use.
Just a dream, you say? The dream is reality at ChemistryLab Gadolin, a laboratory that exists for the purpose of engaging 5 to 20 year-old students in meaningful chemistry learning.
Since its opening five years ago the Gadolin lab has hosted children, young people, teachers and other visitors from Finland and abroad. Up to date about 20 000 visitors have experienced the joy of chemistry at Gadolin. For example chemistry-themed birthday parties have emerged as a less-conventional but popular activity for children.
Promoting interest and skills in chemistry
Hosted by the Department of Chemistry, The Gadolin lab has close collaboration with the Unit of Chemistry Teacher Education and an excellent location at the heart of the Kumpula Science Campus at the University of Helsinki.
The aim of the Gadolin lab is to create and support students’ interest in chemistry. Gadolin activities seek to highlight five important themes in modern chemistry: everyday chemistry, green chemistry, material chemistry, energy, and health and wellbeing. Professor Markku Räsänen, the head of the Department of Chemistry, thinks that the Gadolin concept is “almost perfect,” and says that “the most important message of Gadolin is that without chemistry the most important challenges of mankind such as energy, health and the environment cannot be solved.”
Visits usually last from two to eight hours but longer courses can be arranged. Teachers can check the online reservation calendar and book a suitable time for their group by telephone.
Each group of students is different and can be involved in studying a particular topic of the curriculum. Because each group needs a personal approach, teachers are given the opportunity to tailor the content of their Gadolin visit together with experienced scientists and Gadolin instructors to suit the needs of that particular group of students. They can also design the content of the visit to suit any part of the national chemistry curriculum.
According to Räsänen Gadolin makes an impact. “Gadolin has increased positive visibility of chemistry in the society. This has led to great increase in the number of students applying to study chemistry. Over the years we have got students with much better starting skills,” he says.
From hands-on experiments to computer modeling
The name of the lab honors Johan Gadolin, who established the foundations of chemistry research in Finland and discovered the rare earth element Yttrium.
Gadolin offers a wealth of materials and a choice of over 50 experimental protocols and demonstrations. Visiting groups might choose to do practical experiments on a topic they are covering in class, tour the campus and meet experts who can share their knowledge or work with computers on molecular modeling or simulations.
Gadolin is well stocked with modern laboratory equipment such as an FT-IR, gas chromatograph, spectrophotometer and other technology so the students are introduced to the possibilities of automated measurement techniques commonly in use today.
Students might be especially interested in finding out what a researcher’s life is like in real life. In that case Gadolin can arrange visits to research laboratories in the Department of Chemistry, for example the laboratories of Radiochemistry, Polymer Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry and so on, to meet the scientists in their working environments and to learn about the techniques and equipment they use.
Teaching approaches at the Gadolin lab are based on current research in STEM education. While translation is in-progress, materials are still mostly in Finnish or Swedish. Gadolin instructors can, however, guide the visitors in Finnish, Swedish or English.
Gadolin is all about collaboration
Collaboration between different sectors of the society is what ChemistryLab Gadolin is about. Not only does the collaboration of schools, the research community and the industry make Gadolin possible but they have also made it a great success.
Activities and education at the ChemistryLab Gadolin are developed together with schools and teachers as well as Gadolin staff and the steering group. “As one achievement Gadolin has helped school teachers in their everyday work. Enthusiasm is important for the teachers,” says professor Räsänen who participates in the Gadolin steering group. “Also, the leading branch of industry in our country gets visibility in the society. This also helps employment of the graduate students,” he adds.
The chemical industries take an interest in Gadolin and actively participate in developing the concept. The Finnish Chemical Industry Federation is an important supporter. “We sponsor ChemistryLab Gadolin because the concept is important for the entire area of chemical industry,” says Timo Leppä, Director General of the Chemical Industry Federation. “In addition to direct funding the Federation can act as a bridge between industrial enterprises, academic institutions and schools by providing knowledge and expertise as well as contacts and networks,” Leppä describes their role.
Also many companies have realized the importance and potential of the Gadolin lab for the future of Finnish expertise and show their support by direct funding or by sponsoring instruments, chemicals or other materials.
- Funding: Kemira, Neste Oil, UPM, AGA, BASF, Borealis Polymers, Bruker Corporation, The Chemical Industry Federation of Finland, Department of Chemistry
- Instrument support: Epicur Group, IS-Vet, Laskentaväline, Metrohm Nordic, Miliot Science, PLD Finland, Suomen 3M, Thermo Fisher Scientific, VWR International
In addition to the sponsors, further collaboration involves a variety of partners such as the City of Helsinki, several departments of the University of Helsinki and many societies in the fields of e.g. chemistry, education and the industry.
Both Leppä and Räsänen consider Gadolin a success. Räsänen thinks that the Gadolin concept is “almost perfect”, but that it would benefit from wider international visibility.
“An essential accomplishment has been that the concept is up and running on a solid foundation so that we can concentrate on the goal of providing practical possibilities and opportunities for students to get excited about chemistry,”says Leppä who would like to strengthen the collaboration between the industry, academia and schools even further.
“I think it is important that the laboratory has been set up at the university campus where the scientific community, including education researchers, can directly support the development of the Gadolin concept,” Leppä continues. “But of course the most convincing sign of success is the huge amount of students and teachers visiting Gadolin every year.”
If you are interested in visiting the Gadolin lab, please contact director, professor Maija Aksela (maija.aksela@helsinki.fi).
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Text: Maija Pollari. Photo: Veikko Somerpuro.
