ACCDiS School Innovation Day

This is how Rodrigo Cabrera described his experience at the ACCDiS school innovation day, 8th grade student at Mary and George School.

From January to October 30, 2024, more than 250 students of various ages and from all over Chile had the unique opportunity to become scientists for a day at the Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS ). In collaboration with more than 10 school institutions, Young people participated in hands-on activities such as the creation of gold nanoparticles, The study of cells, drug dissolution and cardiomyocyte experiments. These days, that seek to awaken scientific curiosity in the new generations, are a fundamental part of ACCDiS' commitment to the dissemination of knowledge and the training of researchers in scientific communication.

Among the schools that have participated in these ACCDiS school innovation days, is the Italian School of La Serena, National High School of Maipú, United Nations School of La Cisterna, Mary and George School of Recoleta, among others.

One of the teachers who participated in the activities, it was Carolina Zamorano, Natural Sciences educator at the Mary and George School in Recoleta, who together with his 7th and 8th grade students, participated in the practical on botany and pharmacology. "One of the reasons why I was interested in bringing my students to these activities is that at the end of the year, they will do an herbalist at school and this type of pedagogical outings help them to better understand what they have learned in the classroom," said the teacher.

In addition, stressed that of this type of activities "He hopes that these instances can give the foot to explore, that students fall in love with and learn about science through the concrete, Experiencing Beyond the Classroom, and to ensure that they regain the innate curiosity of children. Carolina Zamorano is one of the teachers who participates in the Explora Associative Program in the Northern Metropolitan Region, Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation led by ACCDiS and who was also part of the Explora va Teacher Camp initiative! Natural laboratories and citizen science for school research and innovation.

Regarding the workshop on innovation in the laboratory, Some students were able to express their experience, Rodrigo Cabrera, an 8th grade student from the same school, said: "It seemed to me a different experience from what is seen and done at school, very educational and interesting for the children."

All the participants were excited, in the same line, his partner Sofía Rivas, One of the 7th grade students commented that after seeing how the researchers explained everything they were going to do, in the future, She would love to be able to pass on this knowledge as a natural sciences teacher.

Rodrigo Cabrera, 8th grade student Mary and George School

Sofia Rivas, 7th grade student Mary and George School

Carolina Zamorano, Natural Sciences Teacher Mary and George School