As part of the European Research Week outreach program, PhD candidate Clara Masó visited Els Castanyers School in Viladrau over four consecutive Fridays to conduct a series of engaging science workshops for 5th and 6th grade students. The activity formed part of a broader initiative that brought researchers into schools and high schools across Catalunya Central, with the goal of making science more accessible to young students.

During the first two sessions, she introduced the pupils to several key scientific concepts:

  • The scientific method
  • The contributions of women in science
  • How wounds heal and why some wounds don’t
  • Advanced wound therapies used in clinical settings
  • Her own research on punch skin grafting as a promising technique to treat chronic wounds

To complement the theoretical part, Clara Masó designed and led three interactive workshops:

  1. A UV light activity to reveal invisible dirt on hands and surfaces
  2. A handwashing experiment using agar plates, allowing students to observe bacterial growth before and after washing their hands
  3. A simulation of punch skin grafting using pigskin, to demonstrate the technique in a hands-on and understandable way

The last two sessions were dedicated to observing the results of the agar plate experiments, which had been cultivated at the University of Vic. Students used a microscope to analyze bacterial growth and were then guided through the process of writing their own mini scientific article, including an introduction, hypothesis, objectives, materials and methods, results, and conclusions.

Through this initiative, Clara Masó not only shared her research but also inspired students to think critically, explore scientific questions, and discover the exciting world of science in a practical and age-appropriate way.