Pupils in Years 5 and 6 recently had a lesson in chemical pathology as part of Dr Mikhaila Muscat’s PHD research. Chemical pathology is a scientific area that is generally concerned with analysis of bodily fluids and involves the study and investigation of the biochemical basis of disease processes. Quite a mouthful, but Dr Muscat translated chemical pathology into an interactive and fun lesson making it accessible to a younger audience.

The sessions dealt with topics including blood tests, high cholesterol, diabetes & the disease that may have sparked the vampire legends, amongst others. Yellow balloons were used to represent different forms of cholesterol together with a red heart-shaped balloon representing the heart.  Short video clips from films and cartoons were used to illustrate points, such as for example laboratory safety and diabetes testing.  A mechanical mouse and a soft toy mouse were used to explain, in very simple terms, how scientists won the Nobel Prize for creating a ‘knock-out mouse’. The disease that medical experts believe the Mona Lisa may have had was also mentioned. Most students were particularly intrigued by the scientific life-like skeleton used during the sessions, which was an obvious hit!

These sessions provided an opportunity to spark the interest of younger generations in this scientific/medical topic.