What do the cells in my body look like?
A visit of the Children's University in Cologne
What do researchers actually do? What do cells look like under a microscope? And how do you hold a pipette? A total of 40 children came to the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing to find answers to these questions as part of the Children's University in Cologne.
"The children carry out experiments at various stations and learn very basic things about biology. They learn what cells are, what DNA looks like and what it is like to work in a research laboratory," explains Maren Berghoff, responsible for public relations at the Max Planck Institute for the Biology of Ageing. "We are delighted that so many children came and were so enthusiastic about the workshop".
A total of 40 children took part in the "What do the cells in my body look like?" workshop over two days under the supervision of the researchers. Every year, the Cologne Children's University offers young researchers the opportunity to take part in exciting events related to knowledge, research and education, and to look behind the scenes at Cologne's universities and scientific institutions.
In addition, three doctoral students from Langer's department organised a workshop as part of SFB 1218. "It is great to see how young children are interested in science and enjoy experimenting. Their enthusiasm when the experiment works is priceless," says Lilli Pazurek, who introduced the children to laboratory life and the structure of human DNA. "The workshops inspire not only the children, but us too".
