Four IIBM laboratories participate in the CSIC and AEAC program, "Científic@s en prácticas"

• Eight IES of the Community of Madrid from vulnerable areas and 19 CSIC centers, including the IIBM, have participated in the "Scientists in practice" program of the CSIC and the Spanish Association for the Advancement of Science (AEAC)

Four research groups from the Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Alberto Sols, IIBM (CSIC-UAM) have collaborated in the "Científic@s en prácticas" program. For one week, from June 19 to 23, eight students from several Secondary Schools (IES) of the Community of Madrid have been awarded with a stay in the laboratories of María Monsalve Pérez, Ángela Martínez Valverde, Soledad Bárez López and Juan Manuel Zapata.

The mission of "Científic@s en prácticas", an initiative of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the Spanish Association for the Advancement of Science (AEAC), is to strengthen the relationship between science and society by promoting talent in disadvantaged areas, providing young students in the 3rd year of Compulsory Secondary Education (ESO) and 1st year of the Curricular Diversification Program (PDC) with the opportunity to spend time in research groups and laboratories, participating in their work and spending a week with scientists. Eight IES have participated in this edition: IES Alto Jarama (Torrelaguna), IES Iturralde (Aluche), IES Joaquín Rodrigo (Vicálvaro), IES Mariano José de Larra (Aluche), IES Miguel Catalán (Coslada), IES Miguel Delibes (Ciudad Lineal), IES Santa Eugenia (Villa de Vallecas) and IES Tirso de Molina (Puente de Vallecas).

Laura Doblado Bueno, from Dr. Monsalve's research group, managed the internships of Nadia Aragoneses Cortés and Andrea Bellido Mozo. Laura showed them cell culture, mouse genotyping, RNA and protein extraction, etc.

Natalia Maderak and Irene Monge from IES Iturralde and IES Miguel Delibes, respectively, spent a week with the IIBM group of Thyroid Hormones and Central Nervous System. Dr. Soledad Bárez and Marina Guillén were responsible for instructing these two students about life in a laboratory and taught them several common techniques of this research group.

José María Lanza from Dr. Zapata's laboratory has been in charge of supervising Ainhoa García Sanz and Helia Romero Roldán from IES Alto Jarama and IES Tirso de Molina, respectively. These students have learned, among others, cell culture techniques, DNA and protein separation by electrophoresis, PCR and cell viability. In addition, Ainhoa and Helia observed cells under the confocal microscope thanks to Dr. Mónica Belinchón.

Students Gadea Fernández Mate and Guillermo Pérez Romero from IES Mariano José de Larra and IES Miguel Delibes, respectively, visited Dr. Martínez-Valverde's laboratory. Ángela Montes San Lorenzo and Ana Belén Hitos Prados were in charge of showing the daily life of the laboratory, as well as numerous techniques that this group uses for the development of their projects.

Last year only Dr. María Monsalve's group hosted "Scientists in Practice" students. This year, we are pleased that the IIBM has participated in this initiative with three additional research groups. We congratulate the laboratories of María Monsalve Pérez, Ángela Martínez Valverde, Soledad Bárez López and Juan Manuel Zapata for their commitment to bring science closer to society, enriching the scientific knowledge of the eight students who have visited the IIBM and also for fostering scientific vocations among them.