July 31, 2010
The Institute for Chemical Research held the 13th Chemical Research for High School Students - Hear, See, Enjoy the Forefront of Chemistry. Chemical Research for High School Students is held every summer to convey to the younger generation including high school students the fun and joy of science, by experiencing actual research sites of cutting-edge science.
Participants gathered from all over Japan on this hot summer day, and were assigned to 11 observation sites (laboratories) where they observed large research equipment and conducted chemistry experiments. At the observation site where organic EL diodes are made, participants coated a plastic plate with the synthesized organic compound and passed electricity through it, thereby illuminating it. At the observation site using -196℃ liquid nitrogen, participants dipped tennis balls and balloons in liquid nitrogen to experience the expanding behavior of air depending on temperature. High school students all looked alive and engaged at every site, concentrating on the experiment at hand.
This year, Professor Teruo Ono gave a lecture titled "Let's take a look at the periodic table of elements." Participants eagerly listened to the lecture on elements, involving familiar substances, while looking at the periodic table.
After all the programs have completed, the "Comprehensive Discussion: Let's Ask Anything" was held, and faculty members of the Institute for Chemical Research and graduate school students answered questions from participants. It turned out to be a very lively discussion session.
Participants concentrating on the experiment