The Youth and Science program from Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation in Barcelona puts together 15–16-year-old students with scientists from different fields and allow them to perform a small research project. Nayeli Pérez took part in this activity and hosted Iva Comar for 2 weeks at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC).
Nayeli Pérez, researcher at the Nanoprobes and Nanoswitches group from IBEC, led by Pau Gorostiza, coordinator of a PHOTOTHERAPORT, hosted Iva Comar, a 15 year-old student who spent two weeks in the laboratory (from the 24th of June to the 05th of July). She could experience what it is like to be a researcher and participated in the daily life of the research group while carrying out a small scientific project titled “animal model kinematics for neural analysis”.
In the frame of this stay, Iva learnt how to handle a zebrafish animal model to perform movement kinematics and analyse the neuromotor, motor and sensory response to various substances, as well as generate records and images. She also got familiar with the scientific publication system and how to find relevant publications, while reviewing some literature to become familiar with the study model.
Regarding the experimental work, Iva had the opportunity to prepare different material and equipment, measure physic-chemical parameters of the animal habitat, visualize samples under the microscope and do image processing and data analysis. Finally, Iva also gained skills in preparing presentations and giving short talks, as she presented her work, results and conclusions at the regular laboratory meetings.
The Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation is a private and independent foundation, led by a board of trustees comprising experts in different fields, which focus their efforts on carrying out projects that have a positive impact on people’s quality of life. Among those projects we can find the Youth and Science program, oriented to 4th year of compulsory secondary school (ESO) students. The goal of this program is to encourage student’s scientific-technological vocations offering them the opportunity to experience research firsthand and the chance of fully cultivating their skills.
This was certainly a great experience for Iva, who opened her mind to scientific research and developed critical thinking.
