HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS EXPERIENCED COLLEGE IN FOOD ENGINEERING LABORATORIES

“SCIENCE DAYS” event was organized by Department of Food Engineering in Izmir University of Economics. This event aimed to teach science in an entertaining way to students from different high schools located in Izmir and took place in the newest laboratories of İzmir University of Economics Food Engineering Department which were opened earlier this year.

‘First steps to world of science and academia’
With the guidance of professors from Food Engineering Department, high school students from different ages, actively conducted experiments and learnt about biological, chemical and microbiological properties of foods.

‘Different food analyses were done in the laboratories’
Experiments included isolation of DNA from kiwi fruits, staining of microorganisms and observing under light microscopy, preparing orange juice containing spheres using calcium salts and sodium alginate, paper chromatography with spinach, observing red cabbage color compounds under acidic and basic conditions, understanding how detergents work to eliminate oils, determining acid level in apple juice using titration and utilizing different types of indicators to observe sugar, protein and fat content in food with color reactions.

Starting second year of college, Izmir University of Economics Food Engineering students are educated in these laboratories which were developed in parallel with newest international technological developments. Food engineering students also participated in this event and helped high school students while doing the experiments.