Dr Nigel Waterhouse and students from Tagai State College looking at healthy and diseased liver tissue
QIMR Berghofer Education Co-ordinator Dr Manuel Serrano Santos said the program was designed specifically for children in regional Queensland in consultation with the Department of Education, and the support has been far reaching.
“We were received with open arms. It was great to show students that science is possible for them, no matter how remote they are. We wanted to make sure that we not only have a footprint in the schools but also in the local area and QIMR has had a massive presence with this visit.”
Jude Di Giacomo from the Northern Peninsula Area State College said the visit opened the eyes of many students, particularly those with a natural flair for science.
“It’s not often a team of renowned scientists in their field working at an amazing institute in Brisbane travel all this way. How the research was presented to the students was just outstanding.”
The visit exposed the students to new opportunities in science and Jemima-Lee de Bree from Bentley Park College said this was invaluable.
“I don’t think they thought about medical research, becoming scientists or going down that pathway at all. So I do think that you guys (QIMR Berghofer researchers) coming has opened up that opportunity for the students.”
The QIMR Berghofer team of six presented to students from Tagai State College, Bamaga’s Northern Peninsula Area State College, Trinity Bay State High School and Bentley Park College as part of the Institute’s commitment to take science to the regions through its Regional Education Program.
