At least 40 young researchers visited primary schools in the Utrecht region. They were ‘Slimme Gast’ in group 7 and group 8 and told children about doing research.
After the official reception in the Children’s Theater of the Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital with Berent Prakken (UMC Utrecht), the ‘Slimme Gasten’ cycled to a primary school. There they spoke with students and answered all kinds of questions. The children discovered that they can also become researchers themselves and that ‘being smart’ takes many forms.
Researcher Lisanne Baak was a guest in group 7/8 of the Markusschool in the Utrecht district of Overvecht. In class she soon had the full attention of the children by starting a conversation about their dreams for the future. “Perhaps you want to become a hairdresser, or a professional football player. I am a volleyball player and researcher. It is also possible to do both!” She explained to the children how the human body works and how newborn babies can be examined with MRI techniques. “Healthy babies don’t get a MRI-scan, but when a baby is not healthy we want to know what’s going on.” Her explanation evokes both recognition and questions. “I was born there!” One of the guys in the back row cheers when he sees the photo of the WKZ entrance. Another student experienced first-hand what it is like to participate in medical research. Many children raise their hands with Lisanne’s quiz questions about scientific research.
Lisanne and the other ‘Smart Guests’ received two training sessions in advance to prepare their lesson as well as possible. How do you tell exactly what your research entails to children between the ages of 8 and 12? And how do you respond to questions? It was an inspiring meeting for Lisanne. “All the questions and ideas from the children inspire me a lot!”
Watch the video of Lisanne Baak at the Markusschool
