Science project week at Martin-Andersen-Nexö-Gymnasium Dresden - Chair of Chemical Process Engineering participates for the first time

The Science Project Week (WissProWo) at MANOS Gymnasium offers pupils in the advanced science program the unique opportunity to work together with scientists. During this week, the young researchers can carry out their own projects, experiment and gain new insights. This experience not only gives them an insight into scientific work, but also the opportunity to deal with scientific issues in a creative and innovative way. The participants are accompanied by dedicated supervisors who show them the right way to approach a research project. At the end of the week, the pupils present their results at a large closing event.

This year, the Chair of Chemical Process Engineering took part in the Science Project Week for the first time with an exciting project. Three Year 7 pupils devoted themselves to developing a modular cocktail system under the scientific guidance of Carolin Deuter. The project combined process engineering principles with the fascinating topics of modularization and digitalization in plant engineering.

Over the course of the week from March 3 to 7, 2025, the young researchers developed a cocktail system equipped with ESP8266 microcontrollers and controlled via WiFi. The aim was to automatically produce the desired mixture of different components at the touch of a button, whereby the individual cocktail ingredient delivery modules can be easily interchanged, allowing a new cocktail to be created.

The focus was on the following aspects in particular:

• The students were given a practical idea of how technical processes for converting and conveying substances work.
• By designing a modular process, the participants were able to flexibly combine or exchange different modules.
• Technical implementation: The students independently connected pumps, relays and microcontrollers, programmed control sequences and carried out series of measurements on various influencing parameters.

At the end of the project week, the students presented their results in a final presentation. They not only explained the technical basics of their cocktail system, but also showed how they had mastered the challenges of control technology and modular systems. The enthusiasm was great - both among the participants and their supervisor.