Barcelona Science Park (PCB), through PCB-PRBB Animal Facility Alliance, is one of the 20 institutions that took part in the activity program organized by the Municipal Institute of Education of Barcelona (IMEB) under the 21st edition of World Brains Week , held from 14 to 18th March. One more year, scientist working in the city gave talks and workshops at primary and secondary schools, along with tours of the research centers, which gave the students the opportunity to become familiar with the advances made in the field neuroscience.

The PCB has joined this initiative through two activities conducted by neuroscientist Ignasi Sahún, head of the Phenotyping Unit of the PCB-PRBB Animal Alliance Facility, which involved the participation of 75 high school students. “The balance of both these workshops is very positive. Giving these talks has allowed me to bring the most current science to the classrooms and who knows? … Maybe some hidden vocation has been awaken!, the researcher stressed.

‘Drugs + Brains’ has been the subject of talk-workshop that Dr. Sahún has developed today at the Educational Center Els Arcs for 45 junior high school students. Throughout the activity, the researcher explained, in a simple and entertaining way, what drugs are and how they really work; why they have an effect on us effect, and what the difference between use and abuse is, regardless of ethical or moral judgments. Young people have also had the opportunity to participate in a behavioral experiment, which analyzed several videos of mice to determine whether or not they were under the influence of drugs.

Under the title ‘Animal models for research in neurosciences’, the neuroscientist gave yesterday another talk-workshop at the Center Ramon Llull  for 30 first-year junior high school students. The activity was very similar to the one he was giving weekly at PCB for the last four years within the framework of the ‘Research in Society’ program. Participants learned firsthand the various experimental models that scientists use in their daily work to discover the mechanisms behind diseases.

“I started to disseminate science about 15 years ago. Since I started my PhD, I have been participating in Brain Awareness Week with some regularity. In fact, I am a neuroscientist and, therefore, the brain and the secrets it contains are a field of study that I feel passionate about. Taking part in initiatives such as this one is very important to give back to society a small part of what we have received from public institutions. And through this dissemination, we can break the cliches imposed on scientists, in the sense that we are not people with permanent acne, thousand diopters in our glasses, always wearing lab coats and with evil desires to conquer the world. We are, citing Manel, (and also the Pulp), normal people … “, said Sahún ironically.