On 19 February 2025, the Institute of Chemistry at the Faculty of Science, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice (UPJŠ), once again hosted a handover event. At this traditional gathering, selected Slovak schools cooperating with the institute’s Department of Chemistry Didactics received experimental chemistry teaching aids. These schools participated in the 18th project competition organised by VCÖ (Association of Austrian Chemistry Teachers).
This event was organised as part of the long-term collaboration between experts in chemistry didactics from the Faculty of Science at UPJŠ, represented by doc. RNDr. Mária Ganajová, CSc., and the University of Vienna, represented by Dr Ralf Becker.
The VCÖ competition is the leading chemistry teaching competition within the Austrian school system. The main project theme for the 2024/2025 school year was “Green Chemistry”. A total of 257 schools applied to participate in the competition, including 246 from Austria, seven from Germany, three from Slovakia, and one from Turkey.
Three schools from Slovakia were selected to explore the following topic under the guidance of their teachers:
“Air as a Source and Reflection of Ecology” – supervised by RNDr. Mária Vavrová (Joined School of Saint Martyrs of Košice, Grammar School). The teaching aids were handed over in the presence of Deputy Director RNDr. Milan Košč, PhD., MBA, LL.D.
“The Planet’s Mirror – Water Quality and Recycling as Key Factors for a Sustainable Future” – supervised by Mgr. Miroslava Tóthová and Mgr. Dalma Csókási (Grammar School in Kráľovský Chlmec).
“Physical and Chemical Properties of Selected Springs in the High Tatras” – supervised by Mgr. Tomáš Majerčák (Grammar School at Kukučínova 1, Poprad). The teaching aids were handed over in the presence of Director Ing. PaedDr. Beáta Taylorová, PhD.
The projects aimed to showcase chemistry’s contribution to our future and highlight the innovations that will be essential moving forward. These project topics provided an opportunity to explore questions related to the future of humanity in an interdisciplinary manner. Students should gain an understanding of ongoing research in chemistry while also contributing to solutions for future global challenges.
Moreover, the event was attended not only by teachers and students from the selected schools but also by first-year master’s degree students in chemistry (combined) – the future chemistry teachers. As the primary goal of this competition is to promote experimental chemistry teaching through student-led experiments, Dr Ralf Becker from the University of Vienna presented a variety of state-of-the-art teaching aids and ceremoniously handed them over to the schools to support their project work.
Thanks to this collaboration, schools have the opportunity to international events for chemistry teachers in Austria. This year, the 17th Europäischer Chemielehrer*innenkongress (Chemie@Zukunft – Aus dem Reagenzglas in die Zukunft) will take place in Graz from 23 to 26 April. This congress is valuable not only for the theoretical knowledge shared in chemistry teaching but also for its role in enhancing students’ experimental work, making it more accessible and engaging for Slovak students.
This event was supported by the presence of the representatives of Faculty of Science UPJŠ in Košice, the Vice-Dean for External Relations – doc. Mgr. Michal Gallay, PhD., Director of the Institute of Chemistry – prof. RNDr. Zuzana Vargová, PhD. and her Deputy for External Relations – RNDr. Jana Šandrejová, PhD.
