QIMR Berghofer researchers have taken the world of medical research to school students in remote areas of Far North Queensland, with a unique hands-on experience aimed at inspiring the next generation of scientists.
The workshops were held in Weipa with students from Western Cape College and Aurukun State School as part of the QIMR Berghofer Regional Education Program.
The students had a real-world induction into the life of a scientist including using microscopes to view cancers and other diseases such as malaria, practising how to handle a pipette, carrying out simple DNA tests to explore the field of genetics and inherited diseases, and learning about different cell types of the brain and their role in mental health conditions and neurodegenerative diseases.
QIMR Berghofer Education Coordinator Dr Manuel Serrano Santos said bringing scientists to schools in remote areas such as Cape York, allows students to experience firsthand the possibilities of a career in science.
“It was amazing to see the students so highly engaged and interested in the workshops. It is very rewarding to be able to provide this opportunity. The face-to-face interaction is crucial to connecting with the students and inspiring them, as well as engaging with the local communities.
“At QIMR Berghofer, we want to ensure all students can explore the world of health science and medical research no matter how remote their geographical location. We want to help them understand that they can become a scientist if they want to,” Dr Serrano Santos said.
Statistics show that regional and remote students and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students are vastly underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
QIMR Berghofer, which is celebrating 80 years of pioneering medical research in Queensland in 2025, is committed to addressing inequities in science through initiatives such as the Regional Education Program.
Indigenous teaching and learning approaches (“8 ways”) are embedded in the delivery of the workshops to support an inclusive approach, through practices such as story sharing and the use of symbols and images through dialogue with the community about local ways of doing things.
A key focus of the program is sharing the different pathways the scientists have taken into medical research, and the diverse range of careers available.
Western Cape College student Troy Hudson from Napranum said: “That was my first time meeting scientists, and I'm actually very honoured that they visited because I got to ask questions about the path to become a scientist. We got to look through the microscope and see close up pictures of cancer and neurons in the brain and the diseases from mosquitoes. It was brilliant.”
Dr Elina Panahi, from QIMR Berghofer’s Mosquito Control Laboratory, who is researching and developing new surveillance tools and control measures to reduce the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases said: “I absolutely love doing the workshops especially when the students open up during the day and ask all these questions about what life is like as a scientist and how I got to where I am.”
Ian Peall from QIMR Berghofer’s Cellular and Molecular Neurodegeneration group came to a career in science in his 30s and now develops patient-derived 3D brain cell models of motor neuron disease (MND) to test new drugs and develop better treatments.
“The students were really engaged and keen to listen to what we had to say, and it was great to find out more about their lives too and the local area. I hope that at the end of the day the students see that there are a variety of different ways you can go about forging a career in whatever career pathway you choose,” Mr Peall said.
QIMR Berghofer Senior Histology Scientist Crystal Chang analyses human tissue samples using state of the art scientific equipment to search for abnormalities and help diagnose the type of cancer a patient has and test which treatments would be most effective.
“The students were fascinated by the slides showing different cancers and other diseases under the microscopes. Hearing how our work can impact future treatments was definitely eye opening for them,” Ms Chang said.
Belinda Jones, the Head of Maths and Science at Western Cape College said it was great for the students to see their theoretical learning in practice.
“It's really important for us that our students see what they can be in the future, and that can be jobs and positions that don't exist in our local area. So it means the world to us when people choose to come and visit us here at Western Cape College. We encourage our students to try and think big, but this actually lets them see what thinking big can look like.”