Youth's first encounter with stem cell research

Norway made its debut in the global science celebration UniStem Day on March 22, 2024. At the Mohn Research Center for Regenerative Medicine, affiliated with the University of Bergen and Haukeland University Hospital, students from Askøy and Nordahl Grieg high schools had the chance to dive into the fascinating world of stem cells.

The event, now spanning 13 countries and two continents, aims to inspire the next generation of researchers by connecting them directly with the forefront of science. It gathered 97 universities and research centers and over 250 high schools with 30,000 high school students in Europe and Australia.

The program was packed with activities designed to engage and inform. From lectures on the latest breakthroughs in stem cell research and 3D bioprinting, the students gained rare insights into both the theoretical and practical aspects of the research. A special highlight was the international video call with peers in Italy, which underscored the event's global reach and the power of collaboration in science.

"The program was pedagogically sound and varied. The topic was directly linked to parts of the biology curriculum, and at the same time, the students saw concrete examples of research and, most importantly, how it is conducted in the lab. Very useful," said Kjell Augestad, a teacher at Nordahl Grieg High School.

Dress-to-impress competition

Six students were brave enough to come down to the stage and put on the suit and accessories required for producing cells in a cleanroom, which can then be given as a medication to a patient. Petra Vogelsang, who works at the Ex-vivo facility, demonstrated step by step how to perform the procedure for putting on the gowning. All the students did a great job, even though none would have been approved to enter the cleanroom laboratory.

"I couldn't have imagined that stem cell research had come so far and could be so exciting. It was a program where we learned in a fun way, and I'm glad I got to attend," said Espen Opsahl from Nordahl Grieg High School.

Hoping to Ignite the Spark of Research

UniStem Day 2024 in Bergen has not only been a celebration of the potential of stem cell research but also a platform to bridge the gap between academic institutions and the younger generation.

"Engaging with young, curious minds is always a joy. Their enthusiasm confirms the importance of our work and the positive impact it can have on the future," says Salwa Suliman, PhD, researcher at the Department of Clinical Dentistry (IKO), UiB.

Through this first participation, the organizers hope to have ignited a spark of curiosity in the participants, a spark that may one day lead to groundbreaking scientific discoveries. With the success of today, UniStem Day in Norway looks forward to inspiring even more students in the years to come.

"It was incredibly fun to have high school students visit. They were curious and asked many good questions. Along with all the other students in Europe who participated in UniStem Day, they constitute tomorrow's researchers. We hope we planted a small research seed in them. Research is passed down from generation to generation. The research we are conducting now will be carried forward by these students, and in their lifetime, they will experience significant medical breakthroughs," says Elise Aasebø, PhD in cell biology and coordinator at the Mohn Research Center for Regenerative Medicine.

 "We are incredibly grateful that the teachers at Nordahl Grieg and Askøy highschools were willing to come to Haukeland this Friday. We have been excited to show the students what stem cell research can achieve, and we think it’s fantastic that 30,000 students participate in this event simultaneously! We are also very appreciative that Tekna sponsored lunch for the students."

 

The program committee for the UniStem Day event in Bergen consisted of Elise Aasebø (coordinator at the MRCRM), Salwa Suliman (researcher at the Department of Clinical Dentistry, UiB), and Turid Helen Felli Lunde (biochemist at the Department of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Helse Bergen, and Tekna representative).

See the program.