“It’s exciting to see real-world chemistry,” says a high school student visiting CATRIN
Adam Indra, a fourth-year student at “Střední škola logistiky a chemie” in Olomouc, is gaining invaluable experience that may not only benefit his current studies but also shape his future academic career. Under the guidance of CATRIN scientists, he is exploring advanced topics such as the preparation of graphene derivatives and their practical applications.
His interest in pursuing an internship at CATRIN was sparked during a visit to the institute with his afterschool chemistry club last year. When the time came to choose a place for his compulsory internship, CATRIN was his first choice.
“I reached out to CATRIN, and Professor Otyepka approved my request. From the very first days, it was clear that the center is involved in groundbreaking research. The work being done here is crucial for addressing modern global challenges. For instance, I’ve been introduced to innovations like new types of batteries, supercapacitors, and biosensors, all within my first week. I’ve also learned new analytical techniques and gained a solid foundation in energy storage and sensing devices. It’s amazing to see chemistry applied to real research,” said the student, who hopes to apply this knowledge not only in his upcoming exams. He is considering studying nanomaterials chemistry at university, and he believes this internship will be an asset.
“Adam has already studied the characterization of supercapacitors and explored biosensors. He will soon delve into materials characterization using electron microscopy and computational chemistry. His curiosity about how things work, combined with his enthusiasm and strong high school background, has made his work progress smoothly. I believe this internship will be highly beneficial to him, and perhaps it will inspire his future career choices,” said his mentor, Vojtěch Kupka from CATRIN.
Internships like this are one of the many ways CATRIN scientists seek to ignite a passion for science in talented high school students. Through collaborations with CATRIN researchers, several students have already achieved success in high school competitions or been inspired to pursue natural sciences at university. “We are always eager to support students interested in exploring the fascinating world of nanoscience. We foster their enthusiasm and celebrate their successes, whether they are visitors, interns, or students,” added Michal Otyepka, Head of CATRIN-RCPTM.