Fundación Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos

Two lectures were given at the University in Toledo: one on the brain mechanisms of addictions, the other about the limits of the brain. College students raised many questions to the lecturers. The Deputy Rector claimed the importance of popularizing the research. The HNP medical director pointed out that “science is close to our lives”. Secondary school students visited the HNP research facilities. After an introductory talk, they were guided through educational itineraries to show them how research works and how the results can improve the life of SCI patients. The students interacted with some experimental techniques and with the research and support personnel. A short guided-tour through the hospital facilities showed the students the patients’ daily routines. Finally, a meeting with a group of young SCI patients and a psychologist provided the students with a positive insight on how to manage SCI facts. Feedback was very positive. Students were grateful for the conversation with SCI patients. Their teachers recognised that the visit showed the students the importance of research, and supported science activities for students. An open round table with researchers was held to bring up to date the discoveries on SCI treatments. Many patients and relatives attended the discussion and raised questions to the experts. HNP researchers visited 5-6-year-old kids from 2 public primary schools. A short play was performed to show the kids how the brain processes sensory information. The kids constructed paper brain helmets to identify the brain areas corresponding to each sense. Kids and teachers learnt that brains need to be exercised. The experience was very rewarding, and everyone enjoyed an instructive and funny time.

Benefits: -Visibility to our Research Unit and to CNS research. -Chance to show our work and foster vocations among audiences we rarely reach. -A perfect framework for popular science (PS) activities with patients in our hospital. Outcomes: -More than 100 primary and 300 secondary school students reached. Schools asked to join in BAW 2020. -Constitution of a PS group in our institution. -Production of the PS talk: “the limits of the brain: how will the future brain be?” by Dr Juan Aguilar

Guided Tours for Secondary Schools: we prepared the visit to our research centre as several guided circuits, each one based on a different research project. A researcher or technician acted as a guide for each circuit explaining the development of the project, from hypotheses to methods and results, through activities carried out in different laboratories or facilities. All circuits were 90 minutes long and comprised activities in 4 labs/facilities. Each group included up to 12 students and will complete one circuit. Benefits: 5 guided circuits allowed us to attend up to 60 students a day without bothering much the research groups or facilities (20minutes/day for those included in the circuits). It was only costly for the personal guides which spent more than 90 minutes/day. Keep in mind that students get physically tired (at least in center Spain) very easily and soon. They need to sit every now and then.