A thick white cloud quickly fills the room, moving over the workbenches and surrounding the first curious visitors who come closer. The liquid nitrogen, at -196 °C, reacts upon contact with the warm air, creating an immediate effect that captures the attention of everyone who enters the room. There is a brief silence, followed by exclamations and cautious steps backwards. “It looks like water!” exclaimed one participant, leaning in slightly to get a better look, watching the cold vapour dissipate and reveal the metal containers once more.
The scene marks the start of yet another visit to the 21st edition of the Open Laboratories organised by the Department of Chemical Engineering at Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, in collaboration with the Chemical Engineering Group at Técnico (NEQIST), aimed at secondary school students. Throughout the afternoon, various groups toured different laboratory spaces at Técnico, where scientific concepts were brought to life through experiments and demonstrations.
In a nearby room, just off the area where the liquid nitrogen demonstration was taking place, the lights were dimmed, and attention was focused on another property of matter. Under specific lighting, documents and banknotes reveal details invisible to the naked eye, in a sequence of patterns that appear and disappear depending on the position of the light source. “Fluorescence occurs when certain compounds absorb light and re-emit it at a different wavelength”, explains Bárbara Graça, a Chemical Engineering student at Técnico, showing various examples. “That is why this technique is used in security features, such as identity documents or banknotes, to verify their authenticity”. Participants move closer, shift the light source and observe the immediate response of the materials, where lines and marks become visible only under those conditions.
At the entrance to the Chemistry Engineering building, in the South Tower at the Alameda campus, the groups spread out across various laboratory benches. The tour consists of short stops and straightforward explanations. Each experiment introduces a practical application of chemical engineering. “It gives us a clearer view of available options”, says Rafael, an 11th-grade student, after going around the different activities. Beside him, Sofia, a classmate, highlights the importance of direct contact with the university environment in a year marked by national exams. “It helps us understand better what each field involves”, she began. “Studying the content is one thing, but seeing it applied here allows us to understand what goes on in our daily life”.
“At Técnico, there is always room to learn, ask questions and develop skills”
The afternoon began with a session dedicated to the current challenges in the field titled “Mandado de captura ao CO₂ [dióxido de carbono]” (“Wanted: CO₂ [carbon dioxide]”). Ana Sofia Amorim, a Técnico alumna and current researcher at C5Lab—a collaborative laboratory that brings together different infrastructures and expertise in the field of carbon capture and utilisation—highlighted the impact of the cement industry, which is responsible for around 7% to 8% of global carbon dioxide emissions. “We are working on solutions that involve capturing and utilising CO₂, transforming it into valuable products”, she explained, pointing to approaches that seek to increase process efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
In the context of European Union’s target of carbon neutrality by 2050, the use of carbon dioxide as a raw material is emerging as a complementary approach. “It is not just a matter of capturing CO₂, but of integrating it into new production cycles, increasing the conversion and selectivity of processes”, added Ana Sofia Amorim, emphasising the importance of utilising captured carbon as a resource for the energy transition and for promoting the circular economy.
“The exposure to the educational programme and the practical application of the content is very positive”, says Jesuina Pereira, a teacher at Camões Secondary School in Lisbon. “It allows students to understand the potential of higher education and the interdisciplinarity across different fields”, she notes, whilst observing an activity focused on identifying the origin of different polymers and their application in everyday life. “There is a sense of closeness that makes this environment more accessible and less abstract”.
Back in the laboratories, on one of the workbenches, waste is presented as the starting point for chemical processes that transform it into bio-oils. “Urban or food waste can be converted into complex mixtures, known as bio-oils, through processes such as pyrolysis or direct liquefaction”, explains Dinis Paulino, a Chemical Engineering student at Técnico. “These materials can be used as more sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels, helping to reduce emissions and recover resources that would otherwise be discarded”.
“Chemistry is present in all these processes, from energy to materials”, says Carmen Bacariza, a professor at Técnico and researcher at the Centro de Química Estrutural (CQE), as she guides a group through the various spaces. “We aim to introduce secondary school students to Técnico, its laboratories and the people who work here every day”.
Throughout the tour, the professor also highlights the diversity of opportunities available at the School, ranging from academic training to activities organised by students’ organisations and research units. “There is a strong relationship between teaching and research, and this is reflected in the way students get involved in projects from an early stage”, she adds.
As they left, the groups slowly dispersed through the corridors. Alongside demonstrations, concepts and practical applications, the event offered direct contact with a lab environment and a field where research and education intersect with society’s current challenges. “At Técnico, there is always room to learn, ask questions and develop skills”, said Carmen Bacariza, summarising the event.
Between 27 and 30 April and 4 May, the initiative brought together around 850 secondary school students, accompanied by approximately 50 teachers, who participated in a programme comprising 10 separate lectures, delivered by various speakers, and more than 10 visits to Técnico’s laboratories, spread across various sessions.
