For the second consecutive year, the Centre for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry (CBQF), part of the Faculty of Biotechnology at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, was invited to take part in the Universidade Júnior Summer Academies, an initiative that brings children and young people closer to university life and scientific research.
Throughout July, the CBQF welcomed four groups of Universidade Júnior participants, one group each week, reflecting the programme's weekly structure.
Each group, made up of around 15 to 16 students, had the opportunity to step into the shoes of a researcher, donning a lab coat and experiencing first-hand the day-to-day work of a life sciences laboratory.
A day split into two challenges
The programme designed by CBQF researchers was divided into two sessions, one in the morning and another in the afternoon, each offering a different scientific experience.
During the morning, students took part in "Invisible Detectives: Microbiologists for a Day", a laboratory session focused on microbiology, food safety and human health. Their main task was to isolate and identify pathogenic bacteria found in food using microbiological techniques and to analyse the results obtained.
Alongside the practical work, the activity also aimed to raise awareness of the importance of safe food handling and the precautions people should take with the food they consume every day.
In the afternoon, participants moved on to "Invisible Detectives: Putting the Senses to the Test", a sensory analysis activity centred on a food product.
Students carried out a sensory evaluation under real testing conditions, followed by a discussion of their assessments and an exploration of how sensory analysis is applied in everyday settings and within the food industry.
Bringing science closer to younger generations
Through its participation in the Universidade Júnior programme, the CBQF reaffirms its commitment to promoting scientific literacy among younger generations by providing an authentic research experience in the fields of microbiology, food safety and sensory science.