Monash University Biomedical Science Immersion Day

John Monash Science School is known for all of the amazing opportunities it provides to students, especially the ones connected to Monash University - which we all spoke about during our interviews to get here. Early term 3, on the 24th of July, the year 10s were able to experience one of these special opportunities: Biomedicine Immersion Day.

We spent the day at the Monash University Biomedicine Discovery Institute (Monash BDI) and immersed ourselves in the dynamic world of biomedicine. As someone hoping to pursue a similar path in the future, this experience was particularly meaningful and inspiring.

The day consisted of three hands-on components- workshops covering blood pressure, detecting COVID-19 and testing new cancer treatments. Each session was engaging, informative, and gave us a taste of a day in the life of a Biomedical Researcher. 

We suited up in our lab coats and goggles, and entered our first session with excitement. I did testing cancer treatments in the morning, where we delved into practical lab work. We learned to create blood smears, stain cells, and prepare cells for microscopic analysis. This led to fascinating exploration of the world of immunology and the role of white blood cells in distinguishing cancer positive and negative samples. 

Following that, we moved onto our second session - understanding blood pressure. We began with theory, learning about the significance of physiological control of blood pressure- before eagerly putting it into practice. We had the chance to measure our blood pressure and other key factors tested using the state of the art Finapres Clinical Recording System, which non-invasively monitors finger arterial pressure. We tested how physical movement, mental challenges (courtesy of some intense mental maths) and change in elevation affected our blood pressure. The real time data made the experience even more captivating. 

For the final session, I had the Covid-19 detection workshop which was eye opening and highly interactive. Through simulation involving a hidden “infected” solution, we explored how easy it is for a virus to spread, mirroring real-world outbreaks. We then took on the role of biomedical scientists by carefully pipetting and testing for antigen positive and negative solutions- a lengthy process that many professionals execute every day. 

Although the day came to a close, the memory will last a long time. Photos were taken, memories were made, and, most importantly, we walked away with deeper appreciation and understanding of this crucial area of science, as well as a possible glimpse into the future. 

Our most heartfelt appreciation to the Monash University School of Biomedicine for such a memorable day.

~ Alisa Krivulin