A total of 25 schools -24 in Navarra and 1 in La Rioja- have collected the suitcases of chemistry experiments, corresponding to the project "The Periodic Suitcase". This is an educational and outreach initiative of the Science Museum of the University of Navarra, with the collaboration of the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology - Ministry of Science and Innovation.

Each case contains a total of 32 different reagents and a book of protocols, as well as material necessary for some of the experiments, such as a neodymium magnet, a silicone mold or a microspatula.

The schools participating in this project -which belong to 3rd and 4th of ESO and 1st and 2nd of baccalaureate- are: IES Iturrama, IES Plaza de la Cruz, San Ignacio-Jesuitas, Irabia-Izaga, Dominicas Pamplona, Hijas de Jesús, ClaretLarraona, Miravalles-El Redín, San Cernin, Liceo Monjardín, Maristas Pamplona, Escolapios, San Fermín Ikastola, Jaso Ikastola, IES Sancho III el Mayor (Tafalla), Escolapios (Tafalla), IES Valle del Ebro (Tudela), Colegio La Anunciata (Tudela), IES TokiOna (Bera), IES Pedro de Atarrabia (Villava), Luis Amigó (Mutilva), IES Barañain (Barañain) and Colegio Santa Teresa (Calahorra).

Experimentation in three modalities

During the event, the different modalities of this initiative were presented to the attending schools. "The periodic suitcase is yours" is the version that will be developed by the schools in a more active way. "We want students to learn through experimentation abstract concepts of chemistry such as atomic emission, redox reactions, oxidation states, activation energies, among many others," says Cristina Sola, principal investigator of the project and professor at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Navarra.

The teacher Cristina Sola highlighted the numerous requests from schools in Spain and also from other countries such as Chile and Argentina. "We have had a very good reception of the project by schools in Navarre, other neighboring communities and schools throughout Spain, which makes us consider taking the project to a national level".

The initiative has two other modalities: "The Periodic Suitcase visits your school" consists of a chemistry graduate going on request to any school to carry out chemistry experiments in the classroom; and "Come and see the periodic suitcase" takes place at the Science Museum of the University of Navarra with different activities for all audiences. "The Periodic Suitcase" is part of the Science Museum's STEM strategy to make the teaching of subjects related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics more attractive. The Museum and the FECYT are promoting this project on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the creation of the periodic table, celebrated in 2019.