We celebrated 11F by bringing science closer to new generations
In celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on February 11th, we visited Manuel Llano School in Terán, in the Cabuérniga Valley. During the visit, Lucía Rueda, from the Valdecilla Biobank, and Marta Díaz, coordinator of the Cantabria Cohort, shared with 5th and 6th grade primary students what the Cantabria Cohort is, the fundamental role of scientific research, and how studies like this help improve the health and well-being of society as a whole.
The activity, entitled “How to involve 50,000 people in biomedical research,” was designed so that students could help us shape the study. They suggested, among other ideas, what questions they would include in the questionnaires, what resources would be needed to carry it out, and reflected on why the characteristics of a community like Cantabria make this type of research possible. We also explained what the Valdecilla Biobank is and how it works, and they were able to see the tubes and plates where the biological samples of more than 50,000 Cantabria Cohort participants are stored.
This experience allowed us not only to explain our goals, but also to spark students’ curiosity, encourage critical thinking, and show that science is a field full of opportunities.
At the Cantabria Cohort, we believe that sowing curiosity today is building the science of tomorrow.
We would like to thank Manuel Llano School in Terán and its students for the warm welcome and enthusiasm they showed us throughout the visit. It was an unforgettable experience!