Explosions in the lecture hall

On December 14, 2016, it was that time of year again, and the Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences hosted its annual chemistry demonstration lecture. A total of 300 students, staff members, professors, and many others accepted the invitation. There was plenty of reason to attend, because this time there was no ordinary lecture as we know it. Chalk on the blackboard or a projector presentation with formulas and theoretical facts? No! Explosions, fireworks, and a masterful acting performance taught the crowd about the exciting aspects of chemistry.

Under the direction of Diplom-Chemiker (FH) Matthias Jeschke and Diplom-Chemiker (FH) Martin Hanisch, the A-Team had to be called in to help this year. They had to solve a difficult case using chemical ingenuity and rescue the Chancellor of the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, who had been kidnapped by Santa Claus. The A-Team—featuring, among others, Hannibal, Murdoch, Face, and B.A.—was also more or less supported by Elsterglanz and David Hasselhoff.

Color displays, flying ping-pong balls, and glow sticks were just the harmless experiments of the evening. Smoke, fire, lightning, and explosions shook the lecture hall in Building IV. In the end, the Chancellor was “rescued,” but every happy ending also has a bittersweet aftertaste, because Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Klaus Seibt, who made numerous guest appearances, will be taking his well-deserved retirement this coming March. At the end of the event, Matthias Jeschke expressed special thanks to him and all the other participants and sent the enthusiastic audience out into the foyer for mulled wine, punch, and anecdotes.

Text: Kevin Mühlan