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Science Education

Formerly known as European Learning Laboratory for the Life Sciences

Our inspiring educational experiences share the scientific discoveries of EMBL with young learners aged 10-19 years and teachers in Europe and beyond. We belong to EMBL’s Science Education and Public Engagement office.

SEPE

March 25, 2014

Virtual neuroscience: Italian students discuss brainy matters with EMBL scientists

Last week ELLS has hosted its very first Science Chat in 2014, connecting Italian high school students from the Istituto Scolastico Cattolico Paritario 'Vincenza Altamura' in Rome with EMBL researchers from Monterotondo and Heidelberg via the web. ELLS Science Chat Screenshot (2) 20 March 2014 The virtual ELLS meeting room Postdocs Jose Viosca presented his work on behavioural traits such as fear and anxiety, and postdoc Federico Rossi discussed his research on microglia – the macrophages of the brain.

Last week ELLS has hosted its very first Science Chat in 2014, connecting Italian high school students from the Istituto Scolastico Cattolico Paritario ‘Vincenza Altamura’ in Rome with EMBL researchers from Monterotondo and Heidelberg via the web.

ELLS Science Chat Screenshot (2) 20 March 2014 — The virtual ELLS meeting room

Postdocs Jose Viosca presented his work on behavioural traits such as fear and anxiety, and postdoc Federico Rossi discussed his research on microglia – the macrophages of the brain.

ELLS Science Chat Screenshot (3) 20 March 2014 — Microglia in the spotlight

The engaging presentations led to lively discussions between students and scientists during the Q&A session in the virtual ELLS meeting room.

Looking back at the Science Chat, Jose Viosca, who initiated the event, says:

Copyright: Jesús Miguel Sánchez Espín — Students of the Istituto Scolastico Cattolico Paritario ‘Vincenza Altamura’ in Rome listening to the Science Chat presentations. Image: Jesús Miguel Sánchez Espín

“The students surprised me with their mature (and socially meaningful) questions about gender differences in the brain, how much politicians support research, how much genes vs. environment influence personality, and many more. It was a stimulating and challenging experience at the same time. I am looking forward to repeating an event like this!”