Welcome to the mini-research lab!
Young researchers arrived at the 3R-Center in Tübingen full of curiosity and eager to explore: How can we grow mini-organs outside the body, and how can they help us better understand the human body and its diseases? At this year’s Children’s University Research Day hosted by the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, science turned into an exciting adventure. For one day, the 3R-Center transformed into a hands-on discovery lab for children aged seven to twelve, inviting them to explore the wonders of biomedical modern research.
Of course, very special rules apply in the laboratory: Dressed in lab coats, with protective goggles on their heads and lots of curiosity, the children set off on a fascinating journey through the human body. In the introductory lecture, the participants learned how mini-organs can be cultivated on chip-sized plastic plates, which can provide important insights into the course of diseases and possible therapies.
Discover, Wonder, Explore
Then it was time to go to the laboratory. There, the children learnt how so-called mini-organs can help us to better understand the human body and diseases in a playful way, in line with the 3R principles for animal-free alternatives. At interactive, hands-on stations, they explored:
- the position and function of the body’s central organs,
- They also observed how coloured nutrient solutions flow through an oversized chip model.
- and how to use a microscope to reveal tiny details in real chips.
Dedicated employees from the 3R-Center and µOrganoLab supervised them, explaining complex scientific concepts in a child-friendly way. The children asked questions, experimented, observed and discovered.
Science through children’s eyes
Today’s Research Day has once again demonstrated how engaging and approachable science can be, particularly when viewed through the eyes of children. When theory and practice meet curiosity, not only do you see the sparkle in children’s eyes, but you also see the initial ideas of tomorrow’s researchers emerging. Events like this provide important opportunities for young people to experiment, ask questions and discover things for themselves.
We would like to thank all the young explorers for their fantastic efforts, as well as the entire team who worked to organise this special day.
We can’t wait to see what questions will be asked at the next Children’s University Research Day, and we’re already looking forward to many more “aha” moments at the 3R-Center in Tübingen!
