A conversation with three crazies about biomedicine

Is it really possible to foster scientific vocations from a research centre? At IRB Barcelona, we firmly believe that it is. And to prove it, in this episode we talk to three key players in the programme "Crazy About Biomedicine", a one-year course addressed to baccalaureate students and organised by IRB Barcelona in the framework of the "Bojos per la Ciència" ("Crazy About Science”) series run by the Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation.

In this episode (in Catalan), you will learn what exactly the Crazy is first-hand from the coordinator of the programme at IRB Barcelona. A researcher from the institute who is also one of the programme tutors will also explain what the scientific workshops are like. Finally, you will get the chance to listen to the testimonial of one of the programme's talented students, who has a promising professional career ahead of him. Welcome to the Crazy!

A course where you can play at being a scientist to actually become a scientist

This course offers students the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of scientific theory and techniques in the field of biomedicine. Working hand in hand with young researchers from the institute, these students learn about the kind of science underway at an international research institute and gain practical experience in the latest cutting-edge methodologies—a learning experience that will allow them to position themselves for a career in the life sciences. "The Crazy Programme aims to provide students first-hand experience of research and the opportunity to find out what a scientist's life is like so that the student thinks ‘one day I could become a scientist!’," explains Muriel Arimon, Public Engagement and Science Education Officer and coordinator of Crazy at IRB Barcelona.

A before and an after of the Crazy Programme

According to Eric Matamoros, co-founder of the company Bioap AI and ex-student of the Crazy Programme, this training experience left its mark before and after his degree studies. "The Crazy course helps you grow as a person and as a scientist. When you look at it with perspective, you see a before and an after in your scientific career, you want to collaborate with IRB Barcelona and, as in my case, even return to the institute to do an internship," says Eric, who was influenced by this experience when creating his own business project. "BioAPI AI [an application that detects different types of cancer through the use of artificial intelligence] actually came about as a result of spending a whole academic year participating in the Crazy course at IRB Barcelona. It was because I wanted to keep doing science and continue working in a lab after my restless vocation had been awakened,” he explains.

When curiosity is transformed into maturity and scientific vocation

One of the aspects of the course that Lorena González, a doctoral student at IRB Barcelona and Crazy tutor, ​​likes most is witnessing the transformation of the students’ curiosity into knowledge in an enabling environment, namely a lab. "With only four students per class, sessions can be used to the fullest, and once the students lose their initial shyness, their curiosity has no bounds. What I liked most about being a Crazy tutor is having been able to witness the development of the students: not only do they evolve at the scientific level but also at the personal level,” says Lorena. 

Want to know more about the "Crazy About Biomedicine"? Click here.