On the morning of 30 September, second-grade pupils from Alytus Šaltiniai Progymnasium, accompanied by their teachers, visited the UAB Alkesta laboratory. This time, the laboratory became not only a place where tests are carried out, but also a true space for young explorers.

The children were surprised to hear that our company has been building roads and bridges for more than 30 years. When asked whether this was how they had imagined a laboratory, many admitted that as soon as they walked through the door, they noticed many interesting tools and instruments they had never seen before.

Together, we explored dolomite and granite crushed stone, discussed how they differ, where they come from and what they are used for. When we asked how the crushed stone particles could be measured, the children immediately suggested… a ruler. But when they saw the sieves and had the chance to sieve the crushed stone themselves, the real action began. The laboratory was filled not only with the usual sounds of sieving, but also with children’s questions and laughter.

Later, the pupils watched a concrete specimen being compressed, demonstrated by our colleague Dainius. There was plenty of curiosity and a little concern too – one of the most frequent questions was: “Will it explode? Will it be loud?”

Jurgita showed how a soil compaction test is carried out, and the pupils were able to see up close how many different tests are needed to ensure that roads, bridges and other infrastructure objects are reliable and long-lasting.

Weighing asphalt specimens was another task that sparked a lot of interest. And when we offered the children the chance to take a small handful of crushed stone home in little bags, their eyes lit up. It turns out that the best memory from a laboratory can fit into a very small bag.

As they left, the second-graders rated the visit “10 out of 10”, and more than one said they would come back here again – to work.

Who knows, perhaps today’s curiosity and desire to try things out will become the first step towards tomorrow’s profession.