24 students from schools in the vicinity of LANXESS had an exciting week. The workshop for select talented young chemists was held for the second time this year as part of the education initiative. Last year’s topic was “Environmental Protection and Chemistry”. This year, of course, everything revolves around “rubber” because of the 100-year anniversary.

The workshop began with an excursion to the polymer test laboratory and a tour by Claus Wrana from the BU TRP on the morning of October 19, 2009. Here students were able to form an initial impression of the wonderful world of rubber. For some of the students, the first lab began that same afternoon while the rest immersed themselves in a group activity on “Globalisation, Demographic Change and Resource Conflicts”.

Probably the most exciting part of the workshop took all of the students to the laboratory: The young natural scientists had previously learned about the molecular differences between various types of rubber, their manufacturing processes and the corresponding areas of application. After absorbing the theory, the students now went to work hands-on: Using fruit gums – which, like synthetic rubber, are also made of polymer compounds – as an example, the up-and-coming talents produced their own gummy bears. Unfortunately they were not suitable for consumption since they were made in a chemistry lab.

In addition to hands-on experience, the students also learned to think in economic and entrepreneurial terms during the week. Furthermore, the students investigated what these developments mean for companies such as LANXESS but also for themselves. This is why they developed ideas for new production processes and innovative uses for synthetic rubber in a creative workshop.

In conclusion, the participants presented the ideas and visions they had developed in their workshop to knowledgeable LANXESS representatives using project videos they made themselves.