Four students from the Sächsisches Landesgymnasium Sankt Afra in Meissen conducted experiments during the plus-MINT Research Camp at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences. In the laboratory of the Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences, they learned about modern methods in organic chemistry and investigated a light-induced chemical reaction.
On June 22 and 23, 2026, three 10th-grade girls and one 9th-grade boy visited the Zittau campus of the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences. Accompanied by Prof. Dr. Jan Mollitor, the students first attended a lecture on organic chemistry. Afterward, they were able to perform a synthesis themselves in the lab and analyze the resulting organic compounds using modern instrumental analytical methods.
The two-day visit was part of the plus-MINT Research Camp organized by the Saxon State Gymnasium Sankt Afra. The students gained firsthand insight into everyday university life as well as the workings of a modern chemistry lab. During their stay, they stayed overnight in the HSZG dormitory.
The laboratory work focused on the synthesis of so-called stilbenes. These are organic compounds that are good for studying light-driven chemical reactions. The students synthesized the compounds by selectively linking two carbon atoms.
They then analyzed the resulting substances using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. Both methods provide information about the molecular structure and properties of chemical compounds.
For another experiment, the synthesized stilbenes were exposed to sunlight and then analyzed again. Exposure to UV light altered the spatial arrangement of the molecules. Using the HSZG’s NMR spectrometer, the students were able to track this so-called photochemical isomerization. What makes this unique is that this reaction cannot be triggered by heating alone.
The combination of lectures, lab work, and independent analysis gave the students a firsthand experience of scientific research. Prof. Dr. Jan Mollitor was impressed by their interest and motivation: “The visit by the students from Sankt Afra to our campus in Zittau was a complete success. I was able to experience firsthand just how much joy it brings to work with highly motivated and interested students.”
On June 24, 2026, the four students presented their findings at the Sankt Afra State High School in Meissen. Prof. Dr. Jan Mollitor attended the presentation in person and was impressed by the passion with which the students presented their findings to their classmates and teachers.
The visit also laid the groundwork for further collaboration between HSZG and the Landesgymnasium Sankt Afra. Additional visits by students and teachers to the Zittau campus are already planned. New joint projects are also in the works.
Through initiatives like these, the HSZG introduces young people to science, higher education, and research at an early age. Hands-on experience in the lab can strengthen their interest in scientific topics and open up new perspectives for their future academic paths.
