Monash Tech School, in collaboration with our esteemed partners at the Convergence Science Network, recently kicked off our groundbreaking Superbio Masterclass webinar series, aiming to inspire and empower high school students in the field of Biology.
The webinar, held on Wednesday 17th May, brought together leading experts and educators to provide valuable insights into the exciting world of interdisciplinary research and its potential to drive innovation.
The session was hosted by Dr Catriona Nguyen-Robertson from the Convergence Science Network. As an Immunology Researcher and Science Communicator herself, she passionately introduced the Superbio series, describing Biology as “one of the most exciting fields of Science…critical to our understanding of life”.
The webinar featured an engaging presentation by Dr Jessica Greaney (Jess), a prominent cell biologist and researcher from Monash University's Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute. She is also the 2022 Australia and New Zealand Society for Cell and Developmental Biology (ANZSCDB) Image Award Winner.
As the first individual in her family to attend university, Jess shared how she turned her curiosity in the garden into a profession as a Research Biologist. Jess takes us on her involute journey to becoming a researcher, from deciding high school subjects, university and course selection through to figuring out what sort of biology she enjoyed whilst at university.
Delving into what a typical day as a research scientist looks like, Jess captivated the audience with a visual demonstration of her research on microtubule function and its impact on embryonic development. The research dives into how altering the arrangement of microtubules can potentially influence the fate of cells and embryos.
By studying mouse embryos and human-induced pluripotent stem cells reprogrammed from donated skin cells, she aims to understand the mechanisms that determine cell identity and differentiation. Her research highlights the range of technology used to visualise these changes, from microscopy, fluorescent labelling, light-activated drugs to laser activation.
The research holds significant implications for regenerative medicine, including the potential to manipulate cell structures to encourage the development of specific cell types, paving the way for improved treatments and therapies.
Concluding the session, there was an opportunity for students to engage with our speakers, as they addressed questions from participants. Giving advice on integrating other passions into science, managing workload, practical memorisation techniques and advice for students wanting to study science.
We would like to thank Dr Jessica Greaney, Dr Catriona Nguyen-Robertson, Colin Leask, Luan Ismahil and the Convergence Science Network as a whole for making the Superbio webinar a success. Our collaboration is committed to nurturing the next generation of innovators and problem solvers.
Follow along as the Superbio series continues, where we explore the different areas Biology can take you from academia, research, education and even business.
Register and find out more by following the link here, https://mymts.tech/sBIO.
Comments