BioQuarter Community Engagement Activities August 2023
Connections with our neighbouring communities are important to organisations and individuals at Edinburgh BioQuarter.
BioQuarter is located in the South of Edinburgh, close to the neighbouring communities of Craigmillar, Niddrie, Moredun and Gilmerton. The aim of our community engagement is for these areas to benefit directly from our location, with access to top researchers, clinicians, students, scientists and entrepreneurs.
During the summer months, we unveiled the hard work and team effort by Castlebrae Community Campus high school pupils in the design and creation of a stunning boardroom table for the new IRR building, celebrated ‘future scientists’ at the Castlebrae Community Campus Awards and welcomed summer interns.
CASTLEBRAE COMMUNITY CRAFT WORK
A group of Castlebrae Community Campus high school pupils, led by Castlebrae Project Worker Stu MacDonald, have designed and created a stunning boardroom table for the new IRR building,
Castlebrae Community Campus and IRR have a longstanding partnership, spanning 8 years, that offers the young people of Castlebrae work placements, science mentoring and more.
Hours were spent hand sanding the table to an extremely high-quality finish. Described as ‘STEM by stealth’, this project has helped the young people of Castlebrae develop new skills outside of the conventional classroom setting – an approach that the Castlebrae leadership team use to help support and build confidence in their students.
The boardroom table will sit for years to come at the heart of IRR, and stand as a testimony to the relationship between the Institute and our local community.
TAKING SCIENCE OUT OF THE CLASSROOM
We welcomed two pupils from Castlebrae Community Campus for paid internships over several weeks at the Institute for Regeneration and Repair, to learn and assist on science research projects.
There was great excitement with scientific discovery from culmination of the first week’s work on a stem cell regeneration project – that also demonstrated the art of science reflected by the fluorescent markers.
The support and mentoring provided by the amazing staff and students involved added to the success.
DISCOVERING SCIENCE IS FUN
The science of playdough and taking a look at our own DNA.
Edinburgh BioQuarter researchers had the best time running two science engagement workshops at Castlebrae Community Campus as part of the The City of Edinburgh Council Discover! programme that provides fun and interesting activities for families and children during the school holidays.
Find out more about our STEM Education activities
COULD YOU INSPIRE YOUNG SCIENTISTS?
We’re passionate about helping our local young people receive a world-class STEM education and currently recruiting volunteers from across Edinburgh BioQuarter to share their expertise and experience.
Get involved in our highly successful Science Mentors programme hosted in the Castlebrae Superlab for S4-6 pupils at Castlebrae Community Campus; and Science Buddies, paired with a local primary school to work together to develop science activities such as ‘Science Class Take-Overs’, STEM Clubs, science weeks and fairs.
CASTLEBRAE COMMUNITY CAMPUS AWARDS
Edinburgh BioQuarter presents opportunities for young people in our local community to develop employment skills and this summer we supported two award categories at Castlebrae Community Campus.
Future Scientist Awards were presented to three junior students who have shown a passion for STEM and deemed as ‘ones to watch’ for future innovations and discoveries.
The Senior Dux Award recipient was Elizabeth Laoye and recognises the top senior STEM student who has excelled in their studies.
Elizabeth also had the opportunity of a paid summer internship with the Centre for Regenerative Medicine, working across different research groups and areas to gain insight and hands on experience of techniques and procedures undertaken by scientists.
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