One more year! T
he time has come for the 24 pioneering
lona and the Foundation on behalf of the group for
be at IRB Barcelona 18 Saturdays during the year.
students who took part in the “Crazy
the “unforgettable opportunity” they were given
Chosen from among the 430 applications received
About Biomedicine” programme 2013
to work with first-class scientists for a year. Pepe
from schools throughout Catalonia, these stu-
to spread their wings and fly towards new land-
has just been accepted at Harvard and plans to ma-
dents, truly passionate about biomedicine, have
scapes. In an emotional ceremony held at the Casa
jor in Molecular and Cellular Biology.
made it through a difficult selection process based
Milà, they were handed a diploma in recognition
The audience also included the 24 new students
of the their efforts by Joan J. Guinovart and Lluís
of the class of 2014 (15 girls and 9 boys) who will
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on academic grades, motivation, and a personal interview. Welcome on board! (ltb)
Farrés, Director of IRB Barcelona and Director of Knowledge and Research of the Catalunya-La Pedrera Foundation respectively, the two promoters of this ground-breaking initiative. Last year, the initiative proved to be successful. So much so, that it has been extended to five disciplines and it now involves eight research centres across Catalonia. As IRB Barcelona Director Joan Guinovart noted, “it is highly satisfying to see the Crazy initiative being extended and this passion for biomedicine spreading to other scientific disciplines. It guarantees the future of science in the country.” Before an attentive audience of more than 150 high school students ready to start their new “Crazy about Science” programme and the Directors of eight Catalan science institutes, the veteran Crazy student Pepe Amich thanked IRB Barce-
“Thanks for igniting my spark”
Y
ou have given me the opportunity to reaffirm my passion for research. You allowed me to explore some of the most fascinating discoveries in the life sciences. I worked with profes-
sionals who truly love what they do: this is a precious gift. They were not merely our teachers, they have acted as our mentors. It has been a privilege to get to know researchers from all over the world. They have taught us the real meaning of education, based on passion, exchange and disruptive innovation. And the best of all is that I have genuinely enjoyed the entire journey, from the very first day to the last. We lived the joy of great science. Yes, we are all crazy and hungry. Hungry to discover new approaches to challenging problems, sharing them and making them real. We formed a tight group of friends ready to take on the world. Because interests become passions when you share them, because there is nothing better than inspiring others and being inspired by the best. I’ve met extraordinary people, who are not
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only brilliant students but also committed, hilarious and sensitive people.
Crazy about Biomedicine has been a turning point in my life. Thanks for igniting the spark of our dreams. (Martí Jiménez, Crazy About Biomedicine class of 2013)
Teaching science teachers science
S
cience is a high-speed train that can leave you behind if you do not stay alert. With this in mind, IRB Barcelona organised for the third consecutive year a science training workshop for school teachers in collaboration with the Catalunya-La Pedrera Foundation.
The course, held on 29-30 November, brought 15 enthusiastic science teachers to the Institute.
They were trained in cancer, metastasis and personalised medicine by ten scientists led by Elena Sancho. Eduard Batlle and Roger Gomis explained their latest discoveries, while the group worked hand-in-hand with PhD students and postdocs to see how crucial questions in cancer research are
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investigated, including why some patients develop metastasis while others do not, who is at risk, which cancers tend to reproduce in certain organs, the function of cancer stem cells, and how we can determine what kind of chemotherapy is the best for any given patient. (jl)
Teachers in the cell culture room (Photo: O. Martorell). January 2014 | Issue 25 p5 in vivo Top, Crazy About Biomedicine class of 2013 at the La Pedrera. (Photo L.T. Barone)