ChemistryLab Gadolin is a nonformal learning enviroment based at the Department of Chemistry at the University of Helsinki. Gadolin received an honorary mention in the Global Best Awards for innovative solutions in education business collaboration.
Innovative and creative partnerships
ChemistryLab Gadolin received an honorary mention in the Global Best Awards for developing the collaboration between education, academia and business with innovative and creative partnerships. The Global Best Awards are awarded by the International business education Partnerhip Network (The IPN), an international network for the promotion of collaboration between education, entrepreneurs and businesses.
“Gadolin is an example of the collaborative LUMA effort between Finnish schools universities and businesses, which has also inspired international attention. A number of dedicated experts, teachers and students have been involved in designing, planning and establishing the Gadolin concept,” says Gadolin’s director, professor Maija Aksela from the Teacher training unit at the Department of Chemistry.
Visits to the Gadolin lab and other services including materials are free of charge for teachers and student groups. “We gratefully acknowledge the support and collaboration of the businesses and organizations that support us,” says Aksela.
Learning happens everywhere
An important part of learning takes place outside the classroom. ChemistryLab Gadolin, for example, is open and accessible for free for students of all ages. Gadolin’s aim is to engage students in chemistry through experimentation, fun and the joy of learning.
Chemistry teacher Susanna Saukkonen brought her class of IB chemistry students to the Gadolin lab in September. Her students studied the quality of a water sample using ion exchange chromatography and later experimented with hydrogen fuel cells and molecular modelling.
Saukkonen thinks it is important to leave the classroom once in a while to learn in a different, nonformal environment. In her opinion already the opportunity to visit the university research facilities engages students in a meaningful way.
“It is important to be able to visit the Department of Chemistry. Many students are excited about visiting the university. For example a student might find the visit so interesting that they make up their mind to apply to study here,”Saukkonen says.
“Meeting scientists, visiting actual research labs and seeing scientific posters has also been in some way inspirational to my students.”
More information about ChemistryLab Gadolin.
Text: Maija Pollari. Photo: Veikko Somerpuro.