On September 27, more than 40 researchers and students from NOVA Medical School gathered to celebrate another edition of the European Researchers' Night, an initiative aimed at bringing science and scientists closer to the public.
This year, NOVA Medical School was present at the National Museum of Natural History and Science (MUNHAC) and at the Pavilhão do Conhecimento, in Lisbon, as well as at the Marina de Oeiras.
During this initiative, through activities, games, demonstrations, and challenges, visitors to the various NOVA Medical School exhibits had the opportunity to learn about the latest advances in health research, get answers to questions they didn't even know they had, and spark curiosity in a simple and fun way.
Under the theme "Science for Global Challenges," the researchers present at MUNHAC introduced visitors to sustainable methods for separating and treating biological and toxic waste from scientific activity, the use of extracellular vesicles as an alternative study model to animals in research, and the standard procedures and best practices used in sustainable biomedical research management.
At Marina de Oeiras, NOVA Medical School scientists recreated their laboratories outdoors, sparking curiosity about research topics such as nanotechnology applied to cancer, skin pigmentation mechanisms, how the brain works and how to keep it healthy, vision diseases and how they affect what we see (and don't see), and the 'electrifying' origin of locomotion. Visitors of all ages were also invited to participate in activities that encouraged them to reflect on their dietary choices and the crucial role of physical activity in promoting health and preventing various diseases-particularly those affecting the heart, metabolism, and brain. One of those activities was held at Pavilhão do Conhecimento.
It is also noteworthy that NOVA Medical School was represented at the European Corner, integrated into the Marina de Oeiras event, with European projects such as WHEATBIOME, which studies the impact of different wheat cultures on human health, and Patient Innovation, a platform for patients and caregivers to share and access useful solutions for dealing with their diseases and conditions.
NOVA Medical School's participation in the 2024 European Researchers' Night was made possible thanks to the generous contributions of volunteers from:
- Eleven research groups (group leaders: Ana Faria, Catarina Homem, Cláudia Almeida, Cláudia Santos, César Mendes, Duarte Barral, Gabriela Silva, João Conde, Otília Vieira, Paula Macedo, and Sílvia Conde);
- Four infrastructures (Chain Biobank, Cell Culture Unit, Flow Cytometry Unit, and Fly Unit);
- The Biosafety Committee;
- The "twinning" project EVCA.
In Greater Lisbon, the event held at MUNHAC is an initiative coordinated by the University of Lisbon. Meanwhile, the initiatives at Marina de Oeiras and the Pavilhão do Conhecimento were organized by ITQB NOVA and Ciência Viva, respectively.
NOVA Medical School extends its gratitude to all those who directly collaborated and contributed to another successful participation in the European Researchers' Night:
Adriana Capucho, Ana Caulino, Ana Faria, Ana Raimundo, Bárbara Mendes, Catarina Simões, Cláudia Almeida, Cláudia Andrade, Cláudia Santos, Cristina Demelas, Daniela Marques, Diogo Bitoque, Duarte Barral, Emily Rohrmoser, Fátima Martins, Gabriela Silva, Graça Marques, Gonçalo Melo, Inês Fonseca, Ines Gomes, Joana Sacramento, José Ponce de Leão, Judite Costa, Karine Flor, Luís Ferraz, Marcos Fernandes, Maria Assunção, Margarida Brotas, Otília Vieira, Quélia Ribeiro, Rafael Carecho, Raquel Machado, Rita Oliveira, Rita Rafael, Sara Matos, Sílvia Conde, Sofia Duarte, Susana Silva, Tatiana Burrinha, and Wilma Sobral.
A special thanks also goes to the PhD and Post-doc committees, the Student’s Association (represented by Katarina Serralha and Joana Renata), and the Communication and Marketing Service of NOVA Medical School, which coordinated the initiative.