Inspiring the Next Generation

The Society of Spanish Researchers in the UK (SRUK) hosted an inspiring outreach day event at the Instituto Español Vicente Cañada Blanch, coordinated by Dr MJ Martinez Bravo and featuring the contributions of seven brilliant female scientists. These dedicated volunteers engaged primary and secondary school children in a series of interactive and educational activities designed to ignite their passion for science.

Understanding the Scientific Method: Sara Maleubre guided the children through the scientific method using dice, colouring pens, and paper. This simple yet effective activity helped young minds grasp the basics of scientific inquiry.

Exploring Fluorescence: Angela Caipa demonstrated different sources of fluorescence and explained how this phenomenon is used to identify various cell subsets in patients' blood. This activity highlighted the practical applications of fluorescence in diagnosing diseases.

Role-Playing Immune Responses: Immunologists Belen Gimeno and Teresa Martin led a fun and educational role-playing activity where children acted as pathogens or immune cells. They learned about the immune system and how it defends our bodies, including an introduction to flow cytometry.

Women in Science: Laura Carro delivered an informative talk on the contributions of female scientists to the discovery of new elements in the periodic table. This inspiring presentation celebrated the achievements of women in science.

Microscopy Wonders: Victoria Garcia showcased high-quality images of small sections of nature, such as the cells that form a butterfly wing or structures within eukaryotic cells. She explained how microscopy works, challenging the students to guess what they were seeing.

Chemistry Tricks: Rosa Sanchez explained how the change in water colour of boiled cabbage helps us to identify the pH of substances such as bleach, vinegar and juice.

The outreach day was a resounding success, providing valuable insights into the world of science and celebrating the incredible contributions of female scientists.

For more information, please contact Dr MJ Martinez Bravo mj.martinezbravo@ucl.ac.uk

Links

MJ Martinez Bravo UCL Profile

Spanish Researchers in the UK

Instituto Español Vicente Cañada Blanch

Faculty of Life Sciences Outreach