Chemical Research Odyssey: From High School Foundations to University Frontiers

Abstract

Practicing research in high school is essential for preparing future university students, fostering critical thinking, and situating scientific knowledge within a broader context. However, such training remains rare in upper secondary education. Over the past 10 years, we have developed a research programme tailored for high school students, in which they create colorimetric sensors for analytes of societal importance using the simple strategy of indicator displacement assay (IDA). This initiative has led not only to publications, including in international journals, but also to awards and recognition at the Fall meeting of the Swiss Chemical Society (SCS), benefiting both our students and the broader scientific community. Each year, our students have presented their research at the SCS, gaining valuable experience in scientific communication. Moreover, the concept has extended beyond high school: the expertise gained in this program has directly contributed to initiating a PhD in the field of sensing. Taken together, these outcomes illustrate that such a visionary programme has great potential to be further developed and implemented in high schools. It therefore should be supported by institutions to promote excellence in science and chemistry. We hope that this article will inspire the scientific community to recognize and promote the importance of early research training in fostering excellence in science and chemistry.