Of molecules and microscopes

The International Summer Science School Heidelberg visits EMBL

By Melanie Meihua Brauny

Have you, as a high school student, ever wished you could get a sneak peek into different scientific institutes to gain a unique perspective on the discoveries made there and even get the opportunity to work in one for a few weeks? This dream comes true every year for the participants of the International Summer Science School Heidelberg (ISH), which aims to connect young, promising scientists from Heidelberg’s sister cities in the town on the Neckar, one of Germany’s top research hubs . This year, the 12 young participants of the 26th ISH coming from all around the globe – their home countries included France, Poland, America, Japan and Germany – visited EMBL in July, for a one-day glimpse behind the scenes of Europe’s leading scientific laboratory hosted by its Science Education and Public Engagement (SEPE) team.

Photo: Massimo del Prete/EMBL

Starting the day with a tour through the permanent exhibition “The World of Molecular Biology”, EMBL Planetary Biology Program Manager Josipa Bilic-Zimmermann took  the students aged 16 to 20 on a journey through the institute’s 50 year-long history. Following its current research progamme Molecules to Ecosystems, they dove into the world of DNA, RNA, proteins, cells, organisms and ultimately whole ecosystems. In addition, the students were also offered exclusive peeks at the electron and light sheet microscopes, EMBLs most advanced imaging techniques used by EMBL and visiting scientists. One EMBL scientist, Linda Decker, pursuing her doctorate in the Group of Alba Diz-Muñoz, joined the group to not only give inspiring insights into her own research, but also to answer any questions of the group on her passion for science, personal career and the path that led her to EMBL.

Photo: Ella Doveton/EMBL

In the afternoon, it was time for the participants to experience the power of imaging they had heard about in the morning first hand. In a workshop with the Microscope in Action, the participants got to build their own fully functional, research grade fluorescence learning microscope developed by EMBL-SEPE. Split in groups of four, the participants were quick to combine the optical, electronic and mechanical parts into the fluorescence microscope to look at pre-prepared samples like rhizomes of Lily of the Valley, a rabbit’s tongue or mouse testis.

Looking at the provided samples, the students were inspired to examine additional ones: plant leaves were collected and cut and paper and hair was stained with highlighters. Time flew and far too quickly the afternoon was over. After getting some last glimpses on the samples and taking pictures of the most interesting ones, the participants had to disassemble the microscopes again. With lots of new impressions and many memories in mind, they finished this first day of this year’s International Science Summer School, eager and ready for new scientific adventures.

We wish all participants a great ISH 2024 and all the best for their future careers!