The bioengineering experience 2015
Children from St Joseph’s in the Park visited the Institute of Bioengineering and experienced real, hands on lab activities at the School of Engineering and Materials Science. The project funded by the Center for Public Engagement, was a fantastic event encouraging young people to experience bioengineering first hand. The children learnt about the importance of cells, materials and engineering and why we work together in collaborative research. For example, the children played tug of war with a tendon, they squashed materials containing cells with mechanical devices and helped to dissect cartilage tissues from a cow’s knee joint.
Quotes from the children…
“I learnt how complicated the human knee is. It has got so much function in it, it is very clever. “
“It was kind of gross and cool how the bioengineer cut open the knee joint and you could see the cartilage”
“On TV shows, scientists are usually men. But I have seen more women today”
“I used to think that engineering and science was like Albert Einstein because they were mental. But the bioengineers here are a lot nicer and a lot calmer”.
“Now that I know what a bioengineer is, I am interested”
“I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up but I know now that bioengineer is good and fun to do!”
“It’s really fascinating in a way because there are so many things you never knew, and now after this really fun and interesting visit, which I highly recommend, it has just exploded into my mind”.
It was a very exciting and inspirational day motivating girls and boys to find out more about bioengineering. The children are currently working in project teams and are learning how to make scientific posters in bioengineering. The children’s work will be presented to families and peers at the school’s assembly on 5th June. There will also be a poster display at the “inspiring girls in science” event that will showcase the work of professional women in STEM to twelve schools from Hertfordshire on 4th June. Both events will be hosted by St Joseph’s in the Park.