Extracting DNA from a strawberry, observing samples through a microscope, and learning how techniques such as PCR and electrophoresis work were some of the experiences enjoyed by students from Institución Educativa Madre del Buen Consejo in Floridablanca during a scientific day at Universidad Industrial de Santander (UIS).
The visit was part of the Solidarity Outreach project “Scientific Day in Biological Sciences with an Emphasis on Genetics and Biotechnology,” developed by the UIS Genetics and Biotechnology Research Seedbed. The initiative aims to bring students from educational institutions across Santander closer to the scientific work carried out in the biological sciences.
During the event, the students toured the exhibition area of the UIS Natural History Museum and later visited the Genetics and Biotechnology Laboratory, where they participated in different stations and theoretical-practical workshops related to microscopy, DNA extraction, and molecular biology techniques such as PCR and electrophoresis.
“We want students to get closer to Biology and learn about what we do every day in the laboratory as students of this degree program,” explained Marly Andrea Navas, a student leader of the Genetics and Biotechnology Research Seedbed.
An Experience to Inspire Scientific Careers
Beyond learning concepts, the event allowed students to experience firsthand how science is conducted and to discover new possibilities for their professional future.
For Daniel Alejandro Padilla García, a participating student, these types of experiences are particularly valuable at a stage when young people begin thinking about the transition from school to higher education.
“It is a very meaningful experience because it allows us, as students, to learn more about science and see how a passion for science can be part of who we are. These opportunities are very important for getting to know the university, discovering our interests, and finding out what we are good at,” he said.
The event was also a special experience for Alexandra Cáceres Contreras, a chemistry teacher at the school and a graduate of the UIS Biology program, who returned to her alma mater accompanying her students.
“I am very happy and grateful for this initiative. The students have been very excited, and that is what makes me happiest,” she said.
For the teacher, creating these spaces allows young people to understand that university life and the sciences go far beyond traditional classroom learning.
“It is very important for them to learn about the other things that are done at the University, to see that not everything happens inside a classroom, and that scientific careers also offer many possibilities. Here, they have been able to step outside the four walls of the classroom, engage in hands-on activities, and experiment,” she added.
The “Scientific Day in Biological Sciences with an Emphasis on Genetics and Biotechnology” includes the participation of students from five educational institutions in Santander. Throughout September, they will have the opportunity to visit UIS scientific facilities and learn, with the guidance of university students, about some of the tools and processes involved in the study of Biology, Genetics, and Biotechnology.
