The Ikerbasque Professor at the Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC) and Emeritus Professor at The Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Juan Manuel García-Ruiz, is organizing together with Dr. Solomon Derese and Dr. Martin Mbugua from the University of Nairobi (UoN), and Dr. Fermín Otálora from the Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra (IACT-CSIC), the 1st School Crystallization Contest in Kenia.

Over three days in late November 2023, high-school teachers from across Kenya were introduced to the extraordinary world of crystallography and the important role that crystals play in our everyday lives. The workshop, entitled ‘Learning How Science Works with Crystals’, was led by Prof. Juan Manuel García-Ruiz and Dr. Fermín Otálora, who followed a blend of informative talks, engaging videos, captivating demos and hands-on practical activities to immerse teachers in this fascinating field.

Since then, hundreds of students from Kenyan secondary schools have been working hard on crystal growth projects in the labs of their schools. Now, after all the work performed, they will show the results in the final contest taking place at the Faculty of Sciences of Chiromo Campus (University of Nairobi). A jury will evaluate all the projects presented and choose the winners teams of students and their teachers, who will be awarded a prize in the 1st School Crystallization Contest in Kenia.