CBH inspired high school students at Berzelius Days
During Berzelius Days 2026, researchers, study counselors, and students from CBH met with 325 of Sweden's most chemistry-interested high school students. Through a lecture on the chemistry of textiles and as exhibitors, they showed how chemistry and technology contribute to shaping both everyday life and the future.
The last weekend in January saw the 71st Berzelius Days organized by the Swedish Chemical Society. The event is Sweden's largest chemistry conference for high school students, and the program featured several prominent speakers, including Benjamin List, winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Beatrice Swensson, a researcher at the Department of Wood Chemistry and Pulp Technology, participated from KTH's School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health (CBH). In her lecture, she took textiles – a material that is part of our everyday lives – as her starting point and showed how materials research contributes to the development of a more sustainable society.
Important occasion
“Berzelius Days is an important occasion to show what you can do as a chemist. I hope that more people have gained a clearer picture of how important chemistry is for a sustainable future,” says Beatrice Swensson.
In addition to the lectures, Berzelius Days serves as a meeting place for high school students and universities. KTH's booth was well attended on both days and gave participants the opportunity to meet student ambassadors and study counselors, as well as learn about examples of research on materials from the forest.
“Berzelius Days is often the first encounter between students and higher education in chemistry and technology. At the stand, we notice how curious and well-informed many of them are—and how important it is to be able to ask questions directly to students and study counselors,” says Rebecka Charpentier, study counselor at CBH.
Showing the way
“Here we meet future KTH students and can show them the paths available from high school to becoming engineers and researchers,” adds her colleague, study counselor Sara Sabrie.
Berzelius Days is an annual event, and KTH participates regularly, both as an exhibitor and through its involvement in the Berzelius Days program committee and in the work of the Swedish Chemical Society.
“For KTH, Berzelius Days is an important opportunity to meet both students and teachers. Through our involvement, we can show how chemistry and technology are linked to current research, societal challenges, and future educational paths,” says teacher Helena Lennholm, who participated as a representative of both the Swedish Chemical Society and KTH.
Text: Josefin Illergård
Read more about the Berzelius Days
Would you like to contribute ideas to next year's program? Please contact Josefin Illergård , member of the program committee.