Report on Open doors day
The “Open doors day” at the Institute of Polymers was held on May 22-nd 2013. Within this event the Institute was visited by students and professors from the Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, the University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy – Sofia, the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Medical University – Sofia, our colleagues from Institutes at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and students from the National High School of Mathematics and Science “Acad. Lubomir Chakalov “- Sofia. Various scientific achievements of Bulgarian scientists in the field of new polymers and polymeric materials were introduced to the visitors, as well as different forms of training at IP-BAS (specialized lectures, laboratory internships, preparation of master theses and dissertations) that young people can receive in the field of polymers.
Together with presentations of the main research activities of the six laboratories at the Institute, some attractive scientific experiments and demonstrations with modern equipment were carried out. An original custom-made set-up for electrospinning and electrospraying developed in IP-BAS was presented. In addition, different micro- and nanofibrous materials with diverse form, size and properties were shown to demonstrate the main advantages of electrospinning; The application of polymer electrolyte membrane for energy conversion were demonstrated with a model vehicle powered by a fuel cell; The possibility to synthesize polymers via advanced techniques was exemplified with a RotoSynth microwave reactor; Various experiments illustrating the unique properties of smart polymer materials, super-absorbers, nanoparticles and liposomes were performed as well.
Two lectures titled “Electrospinning – cutting edge technology for the production of micro- and nanofibrous materials” and “Design of superhydrophobic nanostructured surfaces produced by electrospinning” were delivered by Corr. Member I. Rashkov.
The “Open doors day” was organized and sponsored within the frame of the project POLINNOVA – “Strengthening the research capacity and innovation potential of the Institute of Polymers, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences” (Contract No 316086) granted by the European Commission.
The event was highlighted by Darik Radio, the sites of POLINNOVA, Institute of Polymers, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and several popular Bulgarian sites.
GALLERY
