Curious minds explore the world of stem cells during UniStem Day

On Friday 20 March, students who took part in reNEW’s events joined over 30,000 students worldwide for a UniStem event. This is the 18th year of the world’s largest international science communication event aimed at high school students. This year’s theme was ‘‘Free to Choose’’, an invitation for everyone to build their own future by overcoming all prejudices.

“Supporting UniStem Day is about cultivating a passion for discovery, demonstrating that science is a pursuit built on curiosity, perseverance, and evidence-based integrity,” said Melissa H. Little, CEO of reNEW.

reNEW Melbourne’s UniStem day was centred on infection and inflammation, and how we use stem cells to understand the causes and possible treatment of these conditions. 181 high school students from across Victoria, Australia, travelled to the Gene Technology Access Centre in Parkville to explore this topic through interactive hands-on learning opportunities.

The students had the chance to meet with early-career reNEW Melbourne researchers from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute to gain insights into various scientific careers and the role of stem cells in research. They also participated in activities such as loading a gel electrophoresis, matching antibodies, and screening for new drug compounds. Additionally, the students engaged in science communication through art and reflected on the ethical considerations involved in cell donation for medical research.

“I really enjoyed learning of stem cells and furthering my knowledge by being in a lab [environment] with real scientists” said one student.

At reNEW Leiden, the focus was on this year’s UniStem theme ‘Free to Choose’. Forty high school students spent the day exploring the many facets of stem cell research and the wide range of ways one can become involved in this rapidly evolving field. Through a series of engaging lectures, they were introduced to the fundamentals of stem cell science, as well as its promising applications in the treatment of type 1 diabetes.

Following the presentations, the students toured multiple locations within the LUMC, where they could see firsthand how diverse and interdisciplinary stem cell research truly is. The day concluded with a session placing stem cell research—and medical science more broadly—into a historical perspective, helping students appreciate both the progress made and the challenges that lie ahead.

At reNEW Copenhagen, the day began with a warm‑up quiz and an introduction to stem cells. The program then continued with hands‑on activities that were prepared by our early career researchers. Divided into two groups, the students entered the laboratory, where they got an insight into the daily work of our researchers. The activities included cell sorting and isolating DNA for use in gene expression studies in embryonic stem cells. “We have done experiments in the lab at school before, but it was really exciting to work with more advanced equipment here,” one student said.

The day finished with a presentation from early‑career researcher Oscar Bay Axelsen, who shared his professional journey from his time in high school to his current position as a PhD student. His story inspired the students, who took the opportunity to ask for advice on future career choices.

The UniStem Day has over the years turned into the largest educational outreach initiative on stem cells and regenerative medicine in Europe, with some non-European countries also taking part in this promotion effort. This was the fourth time that the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine, reNEW, took part in this engagement event. We want to thank all our speakers and others that contributed to this global event and helped us making this possible!

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