July 2017: The MRC Centre for Inflammation Research was delighted to be involved in Science Insights 2017 Image Students were asked to describe the Science Insights placement using 10 words - these are the most popular. Science Insights is an annual work placement programme designed to introduce students to the work of research scientists and give them first-hand experience of life as a biomedical researcher. The week-long schedule includes research taster sessions, tours of scientific research facilities and presentations and discussions on themes ranging from scientific career opportunities to ethics and use of animals in research. The programme is open to current S5 students and is aimed at those with an interest in biological sciences. A total of 38 students from Edinburgh and the surrounding regions attended Science Insights 2017, visiting all five of the research institutes in the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine across multiple University of Edinburgh sites. There were 115 applications for 40 awarded places (30 girls, ten boys). The college welcomed pupils from 27 different schools across the Edinburgh region (Edinburgh city, East, West and Midlothian, Borders and Fife) and we worked with the UoE Widening Participation team to ensure that places went to pupils from a range of backgrounds. Following on from the successful expansion of the program to the Little France site in 2016, the Medical Research Council Centre for Inflammation Research at the University of Edinburgh took on participants for the second consecutive year. Over two days, the Centre offered eight students the chance to don a lab coat and gain a unique insight into daily life in the lab. By shadowing researchers as they worked on their experiments, they were given hands-on experience and the opportunity to chat to the team about their chosen area of inflammatory research. The programme was a great success and a highly enjoyable experience for both students and researchers alike. Many thanks to the Feng, Hansen and Walmsley groups for their participation. Student feedback: It helped me think about what I want in my future and really confirmed my passion for science. It was interesting to see where the research actually takes place, and I learned some lab techniques and made some connections. Researcher feedback: It was great to take part of this year’s Science Insights programme. Hosting the smart Science Insights students was fun and rewarding. Participating in Science Insights was a very rewarding experience. Chatting with the students about their interests while demonstrating our research was engaging and fun. Links: Science Insights Programme Publication date 12 Oct, 2017
