UniStemDay 2025

A Day of Science and Discovery for pupils at the Helmholtz Diabetes Center

On March 14th, Helmholtz Zentrum Munich hosted a successful UniStemDay, welcoming a group of 14-year-old pupils from a local high school. Thanks to the dedication of many volunteers, the pupils participated in a series of hands-on experiments and informative presentations, gaining a deeper understanding of stem cell research and its relevance to diabetes treatment.

The event started with an introduction and a lecture by Prof. Heiko Lickert on stem cells and diabetes. This was followed by an interactive Q&A session with Nicole and Tobi. The pupils then engaged in an interactive quiz using smartphones, which added a fun element to the learning experience. Following this, they received a safety briefing for the labs and they had the chance to participate in blood sugar measurements, which were conducted by Damla and Helen.

The pupils explored various activities such as career presentations with Jessy, Patricia and Verena, a tour of the cell culture and microscopy demonstrations with Falk and Mireia, DNA extraction experiments with Sophie M and Alessandro...

and a pH experiment with Ana and Damla.

The day concluded with a lunch break, allowing the students to socialize and reflect on their experiences.

The pupils expressed great enthusiasm for the event, particularly enjoying the hands-on experiments and the opportunity to learn about real-world scientific techniques. The interactive quiz was especially well-received, and the variety of activities helped make complex topics like stem cells and diabetes both engaging and accessible.

Thanks to the involvement of numerous volunteers, the day was a great success, sparking curiosity and excitement for the world of scientific research among the pupils. We look forward to support more events like this in the future!