The new generation is coming!

The Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology congratulates Camilla Hurst and Kaylen Camacho, both students of the European School in Luxembourg, for their excellent result in the "European Schools Science Symposium" held in Munich and especially for their prize awarded in the "Jonk Fuerscher - Jeunes Scientifiques" competition of last Sunday in Luxembourg.

With the support of researchers of LIST's "Environmental Research and Innovation" (ERIN) department and their science teacher, the two students have highlighted bacteria in places of their high school where we don't expect to see them (e.g. stair banister, library table). Places that were regularly cleaned significantly less bacteria (e.g. toilets). A few of these bacteria were potentially dangerous (e.g. meningitis, cystitis), other were more common, like those linked to acne or the normal human skin microflora. Furthermore, among all the bacteria detected, there was one that seemed not described before in specialised databases.

The two young researchers have then carried out a surface treatment on a door handle by adding copper oxide. They noted the antimicrobial effect of the latter as there were approx. 50% less bacteria on the treated doorknob than on the untreated one. Regular hand washing, proper cleaning and innovative antimicrobial surface treatment could together durably contribute to reduction of the propagation of potentially harmful bacteria in school environments and public places.

Congratulations to the winners!