From 6 to 17 July, five first-year upper secondary school students from different schools across Catalonia completed a research placement at the UIC Barcelona Bioengineering Institute of Technology (BIT) as part of the second phase of the Joves i Ciència programme, run by the Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation. This is the third consecutive year in which the Sant Cugat campus has taken part in the programme as a host research centre.

During their placement, the students worked on the project “Advanced Biomaterials For Regenerative Medicine”, which focuses on the application of bioengineering to biomaterials design and tissue regeneration. Over the two weeks, they gained first-hand experience of a range of techniques and research methodologies in this field.

According to Soledad Pérez, a BIT researcher and coordinator of UIC Barcelona's participation in the programme, the initiative “is a highly rewarding experience for the team, as it allows us to share our day-to-day work, bring bioengineering research closer to young students and show, in practical terms, how projects in tissue regeneration and biomaterials are developed”.

The students were supported by a team of BIT predoctoral researchers, who introduced them to biomaterial scaffold design, 3D printing, human cell culture and the analysis of interactions between cells and biomaterials. They also learned about a range of characterisation techniques, including rheometry and scanning electron microscopy.

“I have always been interested in biology and, particularly, in tissue regeneration, which I believe is the future of medical research,” said one of the students, explaining what motivated her to apply for the programme.

Another participant highlighted the opportunity to observe first-hand “how cells interact with these materials”. During the placement, the students worked with a variety of tools and technologies, including 3D printers, hydrogels and microscopes.

Encouraging future scientific careers

The Joves i Ciència programme, organised by the Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation, is aimed at young people with a strong interest in and aptitude for research, with the goal of encouraging scientific and technological careers. Over the course of the three-year programme, selected students take part in a series of research placements. The first takes place at MónNatura Pirineus, the second at a partner research centre such as UIC Barcelona, and the third as part of an international programme abroad.

Through this collaboration, UIC Barcelona reinforces its commitment to research, science communication and knowledge transfer, while giving young people access to the expertise and resources of the Bioengineering Institute of Technology and introducing them to research in bioengineering and regenerative medicine.