Children from state and independent schools took part in real research activities at the Institute of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Materials Science.
The children learnt about the knee joint and why mechanical forces were important in helping the cartilage tissues grow and stay healthy.
The children stretched fetal membranes and examined why stretch is important in keeping the cells which protect the baby as she grows inside the mother’s womb healthy.
The best things about the bioengineering experience…
- “Meeting the scientists work in real life”
- “Crushing the cartilage”
- “Going to a lab”
- “I got to see new things”
- “Fun, interesting, gross!”
- “We got to make materials to replace cartilage”
Quotes from the children:
Callum Scott, Whetcroft Primary School, Hertfordshire.
“Your speech, combined with the stations at Queen Mary, has lit a fire of inspiration inside me. In ten years, I could be creating the next technology for bioengineering. Who knows? I know.
I know that in ten years, I will be engineering the machines responsible for growing cells.
I learnt that cells require that they be in similar conditions to where they are going to be. the cells will be stretched and squeezed by the machines”
“It felt like an honour to be invited to Queen Mary University of London. The doctors, biologists and engineers, whose talks were inspiriring and engaging, carried out some phenominal experiments that may be I would like to try one day. Queen May was a trip I will never forget, even if i tried (although of course, I never will).”Jasmine, Whetcroft Primary School, Hertfordshire
“My favourite part was when the scientists cut open the cows foot. I found it interesting and I learnt lots. I also enjoyed your talk at St Joseph’s in the Park. It made me think that I could be a scientist if I wanted to as you explained that when you were younger, you did not even know what a bioengineer was – you really inpsired me.”Sophie Appleyard, Whetcroft Primary School, Hertfordshire
“After we were invited to St Joseph’s in the Park to attend the science event, I loved all the speeches that the scientists produced. However, your one was the best. If I were to go on this trip again, I wouldn’t change anything.”Connor Allen, Whetcroft Primary School, Hertfordshir
Enormous thanks to all the children for taking part in the bioengineering experience.
And huge thanks to the children from Wheatcroft Primary School for taking part for the very first time. I really enjoyed your thank you letters – it has been a pleasure to work with you.
The Bioengineering Experience – See you next year !
- An invitation by the Principal
- Little Heartbeats