Viapath branch out to educate STEM groups
Two members of our team from King’s College Hospital recently visited the Oasis Academy in Silvertown - East London, to deliver a healthcare science presentation to groups of year 7 pupils.
Sunita Sardiwal is a Clinical Scientist in Higher Specialist Training at King’s and Hannah Fearon is a 2nd year Trainee Clinical Scientist in Clinical Biochemistry, also at King’s. Both visited the Academy together to deliver science sessions on ‘Cells, Tissues and Organs’.
Sharing expertise, inspiring youngsters
The three groups of students who attended the sessions are currently in Year 7 at Oasis Academy Silvertown, where they study integrated STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) lessons.
This is part of the nationwide STEM initiative which aims to emphasise the importance and interdependence of these disciplines to students in schools across the country.
Our scientists discussed with the pupils what healthcare scientists do, before taking a look at some slides of blood and monkey organs under the microscope. Predictably the children particularly enjoyed the practical side of the class, asking plenty of questions and really engaging with our experts.
The students were also able to ask questions of Hannah and Sunita based on their own experiences of blood tests and disease, and discuss with them why it was important that there are healthcare scientists that have the skills to identify disease and recognise abnormalities when looking at these cells, tissues and organs in pathology laboratories.
Let’s do this again
Viapath have expertise across a range of disciplines in laboratory diagnostics, we know our people, many of whom are world-leading experts in their fields, thoroughly enjoy outings like this to share their expertise with the public and potential healthcare scientists of the future.
This visit to the Oasis Academy was no exception, as Hannah explains “The students seemed really intrigued by what scientists do in a hospital, and had loads of questions based on their own experiences of blood tests and disease.”
“It is important to build interest in healthcare science to inspire the next generation of experts who will shape laboratory diagnostics in the future”.
“It was a fun day out and we're looking forward to visiting again at a later time in the year and sharing some more about what healthcare scientists do.”
We’re glad the students enjoyed the experience and hopefully Hannah and Sunita will be back later in the year!
If you think your students or an event you’re holding would benefit from the expertise of our people, please get in touch using the email address below.
Further information
Clinical Biochemistry Department at King’s
ViapathOutreach [at] viapath [dot] co [dot] uk (subject: Community%20outreach%20enquiry)
