Scientist returns to school: Inês Mira leads a workshop on microbiology and food safety in Setúbal

Inês Mira, a PhD student at MED – University of Évora, returned to the school she attended in Setúbal to lead the “Sushi Lab” workshop as part of the ‘Scientist Returns to School’ programme, organised by Native Scientists.

Inspired by her PhD project, the workshop enabled primary school pupils to explore the world of microbiology through practical and interactive activities. Throughout the session, the children learnt what bacteria are, were introduced to culture media and some of the equipment used in the laboratory, reflected on food safety issues associated with eating sushi, and observed biological specimens under a microscope.

The activity ended on a creative note, challenging each pupil to imagine, draw and name their own bacterium, thereby reinforcing the knowledge gained during the workshop.

For Inês Mira, interacting with the children is one of the most rewarding aspects of this type of initiative. “What motivates me most is communicating with the children and the genuine enthusiasm they show for the topics. Sharing information with children of this age is truly very special and rewarding.”

 According to the researcher, the pupils’ curiosity remained constant throughout the entire session, particularly whilst looking through the microscope. “The pupils reacted with great enthusiasm to my visit to their school; for many of them, it was the first time they had met a scientist or researcher. The most memorable moment was, without a doubt, their experience with the microscope.” The researcher also recalls the enthusiasm with which the children learnt and repeated the scientific names of bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

For Inês Mira, initiatives such as ‘The Scientist Returns to School’ play an essential role in bridging the gap between science and society. “This initiative is extremely important, as it bridges the gap between the laboratory and the primary school and helps to spark children’s interest in science from an early age, showing them that science is accessible.” The researcher also points out that the school had not received visits of this nature for quite some time, which made the experience particularly meaningful for the whole school community.

Organised by Native Scientists, the ‘Scientist Returns to School’ programme invites researchers to return to the schools where they studied to share their career journeys and bring new generations closer to the world of science through practical and inspiring activities. MED is a partner in this initiative, reinforcing its commitment to promoting scientific culture and bridging the gap between research and society.

The “Sushi Lab” workshop, led by Inês Mira, was supported by Caixa Geral de Depósitos.