Lara Tetley, one of the six students accepted into the third year of Stem Cell Academy, has a newfound admiration for the power of science following a week of the program.

“The program was amazing as we went through each step in detail and getting to perform the processes and experiments ourselves,” said the Year 10 student from Picnic Point High school.

“I learnt so much and even when I didn’t understand, everyone was very open and happy to answer questions.”

The one-week, hands-on program gives Year 10-12 high school students, especially in Western Sydney, a unique opportunity to do real science in a real lab.

Head of our Stem Cell Medicine Group, Associate Professor Anai Gonzalez-Cordero, said: “There are few work placements for high school students to join a research laboratory. The academy offers an opportunity for students to understand what research is all about; what it is to be a scientist.”

The students participated in a week of practical experience, during which they completed several experiments including optimising conditions for their own stem cell cultures, isolating DNA from bacteria, analysing protein differences in disease and healthy organoids using gel electrophoresis, and preparing retinal organoids for histological sectioning and immunohistochemistry.

The students also participated in various presentations about scientific career options, the lab's focus, and spent some time with our Community Relations Manager, Jennifer Philps, where they learnt about the community connections Jeans for Genes relies on.

At the end of the week, they presented their week's experiments with conclusions to the Stem Cell Medicine Lab and the Stem Cell and Organoid facility and impressed them with a wonderful presentation. 

“The academy is our way of engaging and giving back to society and to the local community. We aim to inspire students to follow their passion, and our job is to give them the opportunity to figure it out,” said Associate Professor Gonzalez Cordero.