ON THE EDGE OF THE WORLD SCIENCE
Famous French chemist Daniel Grande lectured for students of the Academy of Sciences
On January 15, gifted high school students who are interested in chemistry have gathered in the experimental laboratory "Ex Lab", which belongs to the structure of the "JAS" NC. As a part of the recently launched project "Day with the Professor," they’ve got a unique opportunity to talk to the world-famous chemist Daniel Grande who is a specialist in the field of synthesis and research of porous polymeric materials and membranes, director of the Institute of Chemistry and Materials Science "Complex Polymeric Systems" of the “East-Paris” University.
During the lecture "Functional Polymeric Materials of Various Porosity Scales: From design to application", students learned about macromolecular substances that are widely used in various fields of production such as microelectronics and power engineering, nanomedicine and biotechnology (tissue engineering, drug delivery, etc.), aircraft construction and military industry, etc. Mr Grande told in an interesting and accessible way about the latest advances in porous polymers and membrane materials, methods for their synthesis and regulation of the porous structure, as well as the possibilities of application of such materials.
The French scientist was pleasantly impressed by the modern equipment of the chemical laboratory "Ex Lab", and by a motivated audience. In his opinion, such popular lectures are very important:
During the lecture "Functional Polymeric Materials of Various Porosity Scales: From design to application", students learned about macromolecular substances that are widely used in various fields of production such as microelectronics and power engineering, nanomedicine and biotechnology (tissue engineering, drug delivery, etc.), aircraft construction and military industry, etc. Mr Grande told in an interesting and accessible way about the latest advances in porous polymers and membrane materials, methods for their synthesis and regulation of the porous structure, as well as the possibilities of application of such materials.
The French scientist was pleasantly impressed by the modern equipment of the chemical laboratory "Ex Lab", and by a motivated audience. In his opinion, such popular lectures are very important:
- Since the beginning of the 1990s in France, as well as in Ukraine, there is a lack of interest in science. Fewer young people do science, and the number of those who are engaged in those things that are moving progress is decreasing accordingly. And now in France, as well as in Ukraine, they are actively trying to attract scientists, university staff, and professors to work with pupils and students. After all, the sooner scientists begin to work with students the more effective the results will be from the point of view of motivation and activation of research talents of future scientists.
A researcher at the Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of the NAS of Ukraine, a chemistry teacher at the laboratory "Ex Lab" Oleksandr Tolstov has the same opinion. He knows professor Grande more than 14 years since his graduate studies and working on a joint project.
- Daniel is a very sociable, experienced person, a well-known specialist in the field of porous polymers. So when we had an opportunity, we gladly invited him to meet with our students. At schools we met high school students who have a great desire to study science and good knowledge in order to master the information given by professors and scholars from different countries of the world, - Mr Oleksandr said.
Meeting with professor Grande impressed students very much: they had another motivation to deepen their knowledge in their favourite field and improve their scientific English.
- I can’t say that I understood completely everything, but it was generally a surprise to me that I can perceive information on chemistry in English. For me this is the first such an experience, - said Darya Belinska, eleventh-grade student of the Sikorsky Aerospace Lyceum of NAU. - Here I saw how the knowledge that I currently receive at school and partly at courses could be used in real life. And I see that I can do that because it is practically useful and really interesting.
As a part of the "Day with the professor" project, the "Ex Lab" staff plans to invite well-known foreign and domestic scholars to meet with young people in order to get as many students as possible acquainted with the modern fields of scientific research.
Tetyana Chernetska
16.01.19
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