2023-12-05 15:30:46
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Mobile Science: Microbiology goes to school, is the name of the initiative led by Dr. Vívian D’Afonseca.
The basic schoolchildren of the Andes School in Talca had the opportunity to have a real scientific experience regarding microbiology and its importance in human health, in addition to participating in dissemination talks, thanks to the Mobile Science project, which is being developed by students from the Faculty of Medicine from the Catholic University of Maule (UCM).
Led by academic Dr. Vívian D’Afonseca; Paz Catalán Rivera, fifth year of Biotechnology Engineering, Rodrigo Andrés Hernández Villagra, fourth year of Chemistry and Pharmacy, and Lucas Alejandro Bravo Ortiz, fourth year of Medicine, were able to share with schoolchildren from fifth to eighth grade, getting more than one surprise the degree of interest and knowledge shown by the boys and girls.
“We know that children have a lot of interest in nature and science. Furthermore, the microscopic universe arouses extreme interest in them. From that perspective, practical knowledge can be brought to schoolchildren in a playful and entertaining way and thus, promote the dissemination of science in the community,” commented the UCM academic, who then highlighted that this important instance allows the knowledge that is generated to be brought to the community. within the University to the school environment and thus contribute to a more complete educational training.
The area chosen by the students was microbiology and its importance in human health, giving a talk in which around 100 schoolchildren participated. Subsequently, practical workshops were held in the University laboratories, in which more than 30 fifth grade students were present.
The presence of the university students, who carried out this experience in order to provide specific scientific knowledge to schoolchildren, was so valued that they took advantage of their visit to compose the jury at the Andes School Science Fair, evaluating all the projects.
“It gives the undergraduate students and teachers involved the possibility of serving the non-scientific community by bringing them in-depth and specialized knowledge, which will further promote our spirit of service in us,” stressed the scientist who leads the Science project. Mobile.
“It was enriching”
Paz Catalán Rivera, future Biotechnology Engineer, commented on what she experienced. “It has been a great experience to share our knowledge in science with fifth grade students, seeing their curiosity and desire to learn new things is enriching and gives one motivation to continue learning and sharing the knowledge one acquires.”
Meanwhile, Lucas Alejandro Bravo Ortiz, 4th year of Medicine, reinforced his classmate’s statements, maintaining that “I did not hesitate to participate since it seemed like a super attractive event, seeing how children are interested in science (…) is a It was a challenge to awaken their interest, but I think we did it. Without a doubt, having participated in this project helped us strengthen our soft skills, since it is a challenge for anyone to be able to explain university concepts to basic education children.”
Rodrigo Andrés Hernández Villagra, 4th year of Chemistry and Pharmacy, recounted what this visit to Andes School was like for him and later working with them in the laboratory. “I feel that this project exponentially enhanced my professional skills, in the way of being able to teach and/or educate smaller people regarding the world of microbiology, perhaps not using technical language so that everyone might understand what is being said. When teaching, the fact of dealing with people of all ages helps you to be a complete professional, adapting to the environment in which you find yourself and giving the best of each one.”
Finally, the Technology professor at the Andes School in Talca, Alex Antonio Venegas Valdés, who has been working at said institution for more than 15 years and was a collaborator in the project, took stock of this initiative. “Seeing such young students amazed by attending a laboratory at the university, feeling a close experience, like a class, but in an absolutely different space, being able to leave school, having materials and instruments within reach that they did not know, together with “With the support of Professor Vivian and her student assistants, we took this experience forward, leaving the parents and students with a very good feeling.”
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