School Outreach Activity at BOKU

During a school visit at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), the BOKU team (Assoc. Prof. Tim Causon, Prof. Stephan Hann, Valeria Mandatelli (DC10)) introduced school students to key concepts in analytical chemistry, with a focus on ion mobility and mass spectrometry.

During the visit, students worked through an educational exercise entitled “When mass spectrometry alone is not enough: separation of isomers in the gas phase”, developed within the framework of MobiliTraIN. The activity introduced fundamental concepts such as molecular mass spectrometry, ion mobility spectrometry, and the challenge of distinguishing isomers, using age-appropriate explanations and examples. The exercise is designed for students aged 14–18 and combines theoretical background with discussion and, where applicable, laboratory-based demonstrations.

The materials explain how ion mobility spectrometry separates ions in the gas phase based on size, shape and conformation, complementing mass spectrometry, and why combining analytical techniques is important for studying complex chemical systems. Learning objectives include understanding mass-to-charge versus size-to-charge concepts and gaining insight into real-world applications of analytical chemistry.

The outreach activity supports the objectives of the MSCA Doctoral Network by promoting science education, knowledge transfer and engagement with society, while showcasing how doctoral training and research topics within MobiliTraIN connect to broader educational and societal contexts.

The full exercise materials are available for download in both English (EN) and German (DE) below.