Biomedical Sciences

Universities family visit day at DIPM

The Division of Infection & Pathway Medicine (DIPM) welcomed 20 visitors, all families with children, to its lab at the Chancellor’s Building at Little France on Saturday 24th June 2017.

A triptich of images from the Universities family visit day at Dipm

This widening participation event aimed to: engage refugee and minorities families who may not have access to the university environment, to encourage young people into Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) activities, and to demonstrate the inclusiveness of international scientific research.

Five overseas students who are studying at the universities were invited to give presentations on their background, how they got into science, their inspirations and their current field of research. Their experience gave the children an insight into various pathways into higher education.

The children then took part in science-related activities, including a wearable technology activity and the chance to use real lab equipment. Through these hands-on activities, the volunteers were able to engage the children and give them a real taste of scientific research.

The older children and parents were given a lab tour in the DIPM labs, where they were able to observe cells under the microscope, discuss DNA detection technologies and manufactured their own customised mementos using a laser ablation technique.

The event received positive feedback from all the children and families which noted that they valued the opportunity to experience scientific research at university.

It was a brilliant event to motivate children towards STEM subjects

Parent at the event

This is a co-hosted event by Multi-Cultural Family Base MCFB), the University of Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt University and Edinburgh Napier University and was funded by RSE Young Academy of Scotland (YAS), with in-kind participation from the 3 universities.

Further information

Multi-Cultural Family Base website (MCFB)

Division of Infection and Pathway Medicine (DiPM)

Widening Participation at the University of Edinburgh

RSE Young Academy of Scotland website