On Saturday, February 1st, the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, the Diversity and Inclusion Promotion Headquarters, and the One Health Research Center co-hosted an event for junior high school students titled "Welcome to the World of Veterinary Medicine: Research Experience Workshop." [For details of the event, please see below.]CLICK HERE】
When we contacted junior high schools in Sapporo, we received applications far exceeding the capacity, and 29 students and their guardians were selected by lottery to participate.
The event began with an introduction and general explanation of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine by Professor Yuko Okamatsu (Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine). Afterwards, participants were divided into three teams and took turns visiting classrooms to participate in workshops themed "Let's look at cells in the blood!", "Let's catch and examine a brown bear!", and "Let's look at invisible molecules!".
In "Let's look at the cells in the blood!", we learned how to use a microscope, found various cells in the blood that are invisible to the naked eye, and learned about their characteristics.
In the "Let's catch and study a brown bear!" activity, participants learned about wildlife research by experiencing things like using blow darts to tranquilize bears and determining their age from their teeth.
In "Let's Look at Invisible Molecules!", we learned about the mechanisms of animal life by using micropipettes to extract DNA and other small molecules such as genes and proteins.
Afterward, a Q&A session was held, during which junior high school students asked teachers and students a variety of questions, such as "What do you do with the data obtained from the survey?" and "Why did you choose to enter the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine?"
At the end of the event, everyone took a commemorative photo, and the event concluded successfully.
The veterinary medicine department's event for junior high school students receives a large number of applications every year, and this year was no exception, with a high competition rate.
We hope to continue this project in the future. For those who were not selected in this lottery, please apply again next time we hold the event.
Professor Okamatsu, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Let's take a look at the cells in the blood!
Scenes from "Let's catch a brown bear and study it!"
Let's take a look at invisible molecules!
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