One is at the very beginning of his career in science, the other has been developing it both at home and abroad for a number of years. Both, however, agree that even just a short inspiration by what science has to offer, ideally within an international context, translates into better outcomes both for researchers and for biomedicine in general. This is another area where the NICR is active and co-organises for both pre-graduate and postgraduate students summer schools with scientists invited from all around the world.
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Do you think it is important for the future scientific career to take a deeper look into particular areas of science already during pre-graduate studies?
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How attractive could be the international summer schools from this perspective?
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Do you believe that the involvement of NICR in these educational activities is useful?
Tomáš Palušák
Prague node, Institute of biochemistry and experimental oncology, First Faculty of Medicine of the Charles University
Pre-graduate student interested in theragnostic
- I am convinced it is crucial to familiarise oneself with particular areas of science already during pre-graduate studies. It is especially important for students who intend to pursue a career in science. Based on my own experience, I would say it is important that people with interest in science search for ways of taking a deeper look ‘under the lid’, where it all happens. Ideally, they should establish a really active contact with science. This deeper look can help us not only form our own idea of what research work really amounts to but also to develop our abilities and often even discover enthusiasm about a particular area of science.
- From my perspective of a participant, the international summer schools for pre-graduate students are an excellent opportunity to become, at least for a while, part of a diverse research team. Thanks to the summer schools, students can look into various kinds of basic and applied research, discuss things, and interact with established scientists from different parts of the world. They can acquire new experiences and, last but not least, make new friends.
- I am convinced that the involvement of NICR in educational activities, such as the summer schools, is beneficial for the students. An educational programme organised under the auspices of NICR gives students access to expert knowledge, to activities of the academic community, and to research infrastructure. They can thus form firm foundations for their future development as researchers, which in turn benefits the academic community and ultimately the patients themselves.
Martin Mistrík
Olomouc node, Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine of the Palacky University
Interested in cellular stress
- Definitely. Students are, after all, in part forced to do it when choosing a department or institute where they do their bachelor thesis. In general, students tend to have a rather skewed and inaccurate idea of laboratory work and of research work in general. Many of them can in this way realise that science is actually not for them. On the other hand, others will discover that something about science fascinates them and gradually, they will find their place in science. This process can prevent potential future disappointment on both sides. Moreover, students will have a chance to look into various areas of research that is nowadays extremely specialised. That can in turn help them choose the area that interests them the most.
- Summer schools are about the best way of looking into, and in part also experiencing, how actual science is done, be it in our country or abroad. The students can familiarise themselves with state-of-the-art technologies, meet leading experts, learn about the most up-to-date findings, and above all meet new people who are, so to say, of a similar blood group. That is also what I believe to be the greatest benefit of these events. It may not look so from the outside, but science is a lot about personal relations. An isolated researcher simply does not stand a chance, and good contacts, eventually even friendships, are hard to establish via Teams, Zoom, or any other virtual platform. So, if a summer school is moreover international, it gives the students the opportunity to experience the international dimension of current science and to establish highly valuable cross-border contacts.
- Aside from the abovementioned socialising and educational dimension, such events also have a significant promotion effect. They attract young people and, ideally, get them interested. From the perspective of the future of NICR, it is probably one of the best possible investments: to attract the attention of young people who would one day push the proverbial ‘machinery of science’ forward and know about us. I also think that mutual enrichment is important: everyone who teaches knows that teaching benefits all parties concerned, especially nowadays, when we have unprecedented access to information and young heads are often full of ideas and new ways of looking at things. Moreover, if education is to have the requisite quality, it is necessary to involve various experts. Educational activities thus also foster a broader connection among people within the NICR.