From 30 June to 11 July, secondary school students Pol García and Aina Rué completed a research placement in the Department of Bioengineering at UIC Barcelona as part of the Youth and Science programme, an initiative led by the Catalunya-La Pedrera Foundation in which UIC Barcelona is participating as a research centre for the second consecutive year. Over the course of two weeks, the students actively took part in laboratory work alongside the team at the Bioengineering Institute of Technology (BIT), where they explored new technologies applied to tissue regeneration.
Designed and led by researcher Soledad Pérez Amodio, the project “Advanced biomaterials for regenerative medicine” enabled the students to explore the potential of bioengineering in the design and validation of advanced biomaterials with clinical applications. During their placement, they learned various techniques for characterising bioactive materials and studying their interaction with cells, all within a real research environment.
“Over these past days, we’ve carried out different experiments focused on tissue regeneration, working alongside researchers and PhD students at BIT. It’s been a very enriching experience that has allowed me to gain hands-on experience in a unique setting,” said Pol García. “Taking part in initiatives like this and in the Youth and Science programme motivates me to believe that in the future I can use my knowledge to benefit society and improve people’s quality of life.”
Aina Rué also shared her experience of discovering the field of bioengineering in depth: “I really enjoyed the experience at BIT over these past days because we learned how to use different materials and very innovative lab techniques. I was amazed to discover fascinating technologies that allow us to create solutions to improve quality of life and reduce the use of animals in research.”
“Pol and Aina’s stay has been an excellent opportunity to introduce them to the world of applied science from a practical perspective,” explained Soledad Pérez Amodio, coordinator of the initiative at UIC Barcelona and researcher at BIT. “The students were able to work with real tools and an interdisciplinary team that showed them how bioengineering can contribute to social wellbeing through innovative medical solutions.”
UIC Barcelona is participating as a partner centre in the Youth and Science programme, an initiative aimed at young people with a passion for science, with the goal of fostering talent and promoting STEM careers through stays at leading research centres. The programme includes an initial placement at the MónNatura Pirineus centre, a second phase at research centres such as UIC Barcelona, and a third stage at prestigious international institutions.
Through this collaboration, UIC Barcelona reinforces its role as a university committed to knowledge transfer and to promoting young talent in research.
