This trip is a part of a TEMPUS exchange program. This program is meant to exchange students and knowledge between the universities in Poland and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Department of Chemistry, in Trondheim, Norway. The Norwegian co-ordinator is Professor Knut Schrøder who is our supervisor in our work for Master of Science. The polish co-ordinator is Prof.dr. Adam Hulanicki and Ph.D. D.Sc. Jerzy Golimowski at the University of Warsaw.
The report is split into two parts: 1) The visit to Warsaw, 2) The visit
to Wroclaw.
The visit to Warsaw.
Wednesday, 2nd of April, we arrived at Warsaw airport from Trondheim, Norway. Ph.D. D.Sc. Jerzy Golimowski wished us welcome and took us (Hege Richter Jonsen, Krister Sveinhaug, and Øyvind Mikkelsen) to the university Hotel Sokrates. After having checked in, he went with us to a bank for exchanging money. Ph.D., D.Sc. Jerzy Golimowski also gave us a short guidance at the area around Hotel Sokrates and the public communication.
After giving us this survey Ph.D. D.Sc. drive us in his car to a short visit at the University of Warsaw, Department of Chemistry. At the University we first had a short meeting in Ph.D., D.Sc. Jerzy Golimowski `s office, and thereafter we took a walk in parts of The Department of Chemistry. We were shown the labs of voltammetry, electro- analytical chemistry, and a lab that was used for mineralization of organic samples, with the application of microwave irradiation.
Thursday, 3rd of April, we were picked up by Ph.D., D.Sc. Jerzy Golimowski at the Hotel Sokrates, and brought to The University of Warsaw, Department of Chemistry. After a short meeting in Ph.D. D.Sc. Jerzy Golimowski `s office, we met Dr. E. Stryjewska in her lab.
Dr. E. Stryjewska and her co-workers were researching wet digestion using microwave irradiation of organic samples before heavy metal determination by voltammetric methods. They were e.g. preparing samples from food and plants. One of the topics dealt about contamination of aluminium in food, e.g. fruit soups that had been cooked in aluminium kettles. Contamination of aluminium in the human body can increase the risk for diseases as e.g. Alzheimer.
After this meeting we went for lunch in the canteen, were some of us tasted a typical polish meal.
In the second part of the day schedule we visited the main lab for electrochemistry, and had discussions with some students here. Ph.D. student Marek Lisiewicz does research on heavy metals in dust, and minerals. He was using voltammetric methods, and had on his own elaborated a software program for controlling the parameters in the voltammetric measurements. His brother had developed the hardware part of his equipment. Martin a Master of Science student from Holland was working with samples that had a great organic content. He intended to develop a more direct voltammetric procedure for heavy metals determinations in such samples as from e.g. waste runoff.
The rest of this day we spent at the voltammertic lab where Hege Richter Jonsen was doing some analyses on samples brought from Norway, as a part of her Master of Science theses.
While Hege did her analyses we spoke to some other students. We had
conversation whit Ph.D. student Beata K. Krasnodebdka, who worked with
analyses of heavy metals in food.
Friday 4th of April, we went to the University by tram. First we had a meeting with Ph.D., D.Sc. Jerzy Golimowski and Prof.dr. Adam Hulanicki, where we planned the trip to Wroclaw the following Monday.
Thereafter we went to the main lab of electrochemistry, for further conversation with students.
We talked a bit of how it was to be a student in Poland compared to how it was to be a student in Norway, exchanged postal - and e-mail addresses. Our impressions were that the student situation was very similar to ours. The laboratories appeared to be well equipped and the students seem to be very clever and skilled.
After lunch we were given a short briefing in the ground floor at the Department of Chemistry.
We were shown labs where they worked with monolayers at mercury drop in connection to cyclic voltammetry. In this skilled environment they also build their own electrodes.
This last lecture finished our visit at University of Warsaw, Department
of Chemistry. We appreciated our three days at the Department of Chemistry
and our hosts very much, and we felt that we had learned something new
and achieved new friends.
Saturday 5th of April, we went downtown Warsaw.
Ph.D. student Beata K. Krasnodebska came along, and guided us on a tour
in the old town of Warsaw. We appreciated this trip very much, and received
cultural and historical information about Warsaw.
Sunday 6th of April we went on our own.
Monday 7th of April we arrived in Wroclaw
late in the evening, and were met by Ph.D. student Marta Chyla who took
us to Hotel Polonia. The trip from Warsaw to Wroclaw lasted 5 hours, and
gave us an impression of the countryside of Poland, and the agriculture
on the enormous flat country.
Tuesday 8th of April we were picked up by Ph.D. student Marta Chyla who brought us to Politechnica Wroclaw. First we met Prof.Dr. Wiesaw Zyrnicki, who wished us welcome to his department. Prof.Dr. Wiesaw Zyrnicki asked us about our interests, and if there were any particular facilities we would like to visit. After this meeting we walked to the ICP lab. Here we met Ph.D. student Bartzomiej Prusisz, who demonstrated the ICP equipment. We did one analysis on tap water. The results showed us e.g. that the concentration of Al was approximated 0.1 ppm, and the Mg concentration approximated 1.1 ppm.
After this experiment we went to Ph.D. student Marta Chyla`s office.
Here we spent some time for sending e-mails and talking with students.
This finished our first day at Politechnica Wroclaw.
Wednesday 9th of April we were met by Ph.D. student Anna Le´sniewiczwent at our Hotel, and followed to Politechnica around 10 o’clock. First we had a short meeting at Prof.Dr. Wiesaw Zyrnicki office where we were oriented about the schedule of the day.
After this meeting we went to Ph.D. student Anna Le´sniewicz office and talked whit some students there, while we were waiting for the first lab visiting. Ph.D. student Anna Le´sniewicz served us cookies and coffee.
After the break we were showed around in the main analytical labs at the Department of Chemistry. First we went to a lab were they prepared organic samples. They utilised microwave irradiation for mineralization of organic materials for adapting the samples for further analysis. Subsequently we inspected a lab were they, as we understood, researched on the application of organometallic thinlayer films.
Next we examined x- ray spectrum devices were they did geological investigation, before we went to the Atomisation Absorption Spectrometric (AAS) lab. Here they had an impressing amount of hollow cathode lamps that covered more or less every detectable element or compound. The AAS methods are capable to detect concentrations down to ppb. level. Students get education in how to operate this instrument. As a part of the education, students also have to learn how to prepare the solution before analysis with AAS.
They also have to learn to find the proper calibration of the samples and standard solutions, by the trying and failure method. Students in higher levels should be qualified to operate a complete analytical procedure.
After visiting the AAS lab we went to visit Ph.D. student Iwona Lisek at the mass spectrometric (MS) lab. Ph.D. student Iwona Lisec was researching halogen salts of lanthanide in MS. The equipment she used were rather old but modernised, and originally build in Russia. It was very big and covered an area of about 4 - 5m2! With Ph.D. student Iwona Lisek we also had a discussion about student existence in Poland compared to the Norwegian conditions. She also asked about our researches, and we explained about the use of low frequent sound as a stirring method, for performing the results in voltammetric analysis, and in this way get higher peaks in the measurements as a result of better mass transport.
Then we entered the isotope lab. Prof.Dr. Charwicz welcomed us and guided us around. When we were in this labs students were doing investigations on gamma irradiating samples. They were also developing their own equipment for simplifying the measurements, and achieving more strictly clear signals. Prof.Dr. Charwicz also showed us finishing treatment of radioactive compounds, and the security precautions. We praise the great attentions they paid to security.
We finished the day with a visit in a lab where they worked with environmental problems as flocculating particles in natural waters. They investigated different methods for doing this such as microbiological activities, additions of flocculating chemicals and physical methods.
At the end of the day we went together with Ph.D. student Anna Le´sniewicz
and Ph.D. student Marta Chyla to a pub called Spiz, and tasted Polish beer.
Thursday, 10th April we came to Politechnica about 11 o’clock and first went for a short meeting with Prof.Dr. Wiesaw Zyrnicki. After this we visited the electrochemical / instrumental lab. Her they elaborate and manufacture electrochemical multi functional equipment, which can operate most of electrochemical analysis.
After this we went to the administration building where the Department of Chemistry was managed. Politechnica have seven institutes, and these are organised in specified sections. Section for Analytical Chemistry is under the Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry. The Analytical Chemistry section includes 28 Master of Science students and 4 Ph.D. students. The total number of chemistry students is 1295. This ended our visit to Politechnica Wroclaw, which had been very interesting and instructive.
We headed for Warsaw Thursday evening, and spend Friday as tourists
in Warsaw.
Saturday 12th of April we arrived Trondheim,
Norway.
We would like to thank everybody in Warsaw and Wroclaw for the good
care. We enjoyed our stay very much, and have now many good memories from
Poland.
And of course we will like to thank the Tempus programme that made
this journey possible.
Greetings from
Øyvind Mikkelsen
Krister Sveinhaug
E-mail:
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Department of Chemistry
N-7055 Trondheim, Norway