Science in Action: Young Talents at the Physics and Chemistry Camp under the Auspices of the Facult

Both camps, organized as part of the Support for Talented Students in the Plzeň Region project, were attended by successful participants from the Chemistry, Physics, and Astronomy Olympiads.

This week, two specialized science camps focused on chemistry and physics are being held at the Faculty of Education of the University of West Bohemia in Plzeň (FPE ZČU). These camps, organized by the School Services Center in Plzeň with financial support from the Plzeň Region, are part of the long-term project Support for Talented Students in the Plzeň Region, which aims to develop gifted students in the fields of chemistry, physics, and astronomy.

The chemistry camp, now in its 14th year, welcomed 12 students who excelled in the regional rounds of the Chemistry Olympiad. Participants, aged 15 to 18, some of whom have attended the camp multiple times, have the opportunity to improve their skills in the laboratories of the Department of Chemistry at FPE. "The camp's program is mainly focused on practical laboratory work, which students often only rarely get to experience in regular school lessons," says Dr. Vladimír Sirotek from the Department of Chemistry. "During the week, they will try out various laboratory tasks from different fields of chemistry, ranging from inorganic and organic chemistry to biochemistry," Sirotek adds.

The camp is attracting significant interest not only from students in Plzeň but also from other towns and villages in the Plzeň Region. This year, the largest group comes from Masaryk High School in Plzeň, which sent four students, with other participants coming from Rokycany, Klatovy, Domažlice, and Blovice. The camp also includes an excursion to the Ore Mountains, focusing on the mining industry and nature in the region, expanding the students' horizons beyond traditional chemistry experiments.

At the same time, a physics camp is being held at the Faculty of Education of ZČU, with participants who have been successful in the Physics and Astronomy Olympiads. Over five days, the students engage in specialized lectures, workshops, and excursions to scientific research facilities. "We all really enjoy the camp. A rich program has been prepared for us, including interesting lectures and excursions to top-tier scientific facilities. Plus, the group here is fantastic," shares Michal Fišer, one of the camp participants.

As with the chemistry camp, the development of practical skills and the opportunity to meet experts from the fields of science and research play a key role here. The Support for Talented Students in the Plzeň Region project was originally co-financed by the European Social Fund and the state budget of the Czech Republic in 2010 and 2011. Since then, it has been funded by the Plzeň Region, which supports young talented students and provides them with opportunities for further professional growth.