Biomedical Science Day 2024 – IBMS Manchester Branch

On Thursday, 6th June 2024, healthcare laboratories across the UK and beyond came together to celebrate their workplaces, colleagues, and expertise, all to raise awareness of the crucial role they play in healthcare. Below, we will take a closer look at the activities organised by the IBMS Manchester Branch in celebration of Biomedical Science Day.

Biomedical Science Day Outreach Visit to Connell Co-Op College 

Organisers

• Sara Alnasir Kassam, Undergraduate Biomedical Science student, University of Salford
• Ben McLachlan, Curriculum Lead and A-Level Biology Teacher, Connell Co-Op College

Outreach Team

• Sara Alnasir Kassam
• Sanaria Fathulla, Iqra Zulfiqar

Event Summary

This Biomedical Science Day, three undergraduate students from the University of Salford visited Connell Co-Op College to deliver a careers’ talk to around 15 students from Mr. McLachlan’s class. The talk was interactive, using the learning tool Mentimeter for activities that emphasised the role of biomedical science in healthcare. The event covered the following topics:

• Overview of Biomedical Science
• Life as a Biomedical Science Student
• Future career pathways with a Biomedical Science degree
• Importance of IBMS Accredited degrees and placement years for HCPC registration
• Student Interaction

The session concluded with a Q&A, where students asked about life at the University of Salford and careers in Biomedical Science. The event was engaging and informative, leaving students with a better understanding of the field.

 

Merchandise

IBMS-branded merchandise was distributed to the students as keepsakes, thanks to the efforts of Tahmina Hussain.

Publicity

The event was publicised on the IBMS Manchester Branch’s X and LinkedIn accounts, featuring pictures taken during the visit.

Testimonials

Sara Alnasir Kassam shared her thoughts:
"I loved conveying to the students the utter enjoyment of studying the Biomedical Science degree. It was a fantastic experience organising these events and then seeing them come to fruition is so rewarding. A huge thanks to academics Tahmina Hussain (also IBMS National Council Member) and Dr. Matthew Jones for having faith in me to pull this off and for all the encouragement they provided. I would like to thank Sanaria and Iqra, my fellow ambassadors; they provided fantastic insights throughout the talk and it provided a fabulous boost to the talk. Thanks to Ben McLachlan, from Connell Co-Op College, for allowing us to talk to his students and for his willingness for us to hold this event to celebrate Biomedical Science Day 2024. I can’t wait for next year’s Biomedical Science Day!"

Sanaria Fathulla commented:
"I had a great time being able to educate and highlight the diversity of doing a biomedical science degree and the career paths. It was a great opportunity for me network and help students with their future careers prospects."

Iqra Zulfiqar added:
"I really enjoyed taking part in the event. It was a major breakthrough for my career and academic life, boosting my confidence. I went from feeling nervous about public speaking to confidently sharing Biomedical Science with younger people."

 

Royal Manchester Children's Hospital

At The Atrium, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, staff from Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust gathered together to spread awareness about biomedical science.

 

Participating Departments

• Bacteriology
• Virology
• Biochemistry
• Immunology
• Cellular Pathology
• Haematology & Transfusion

 

Event Highlights

The event featured interactive stands representing various biomedical science disciplines, offering activities such as:

• Urinalysis
• Centrifugation
• Microscopy
• Micro-pipetting
• Culturing samples on agar plates

 

Engagement

Children enjoyed dressing up as lab staff, while parents learned about the critical role of biomedical science in healthcare. QR codes on flyers provided further information for those interested in learning more about the field.

Feedback

Ismael Ali:
"Children were excited to put on the lab coats and play at being proud lab staff whilst their parents watched."

Emily O’Callaghan:
"I was impressed with the manual dexterity of the children using the Gilson pipettes. True scientists in the making."

The event successfully reached out to future scientists and their families, with everyone leaving with a small prize from the tombola. The staff across various sites were appreciated for their hard work throughout the year, with the event concluding with a pizza prize draw competition.