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RIVAS PARDO LAB
Mechano-Biology Group
OUTREACH (VICOM)
We are convince that our mission is to communicate and connect our science to society. For that we have pursued several initiatives which aim to return the support that communities has placed on us. Check below our individual and community activities, some of them organized with the Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics at Univ Mayor and SMAT-C at Univ de Santiago.
OUTREACH PROJECTS
(Vinculación con el Medio)
MICROSCOPY FOR EVERYONE
Did you know that there is a immense universe of cells in a single drop of water? We think the microscopy is one of the most thrilling and exciting experiences in Science, which could teach us more than we think.
In the past, we have organized several microscopy workshops, open to the university students but also our local communities. We have used origami microscopes, also known as FoldScope, a microscope developed by Prof. Manu Prakash and Jim Cybulski (Stanford Univ). Although Foldscope is a regular bright filed microscope, we implemented several modifications rendering an excellent tools from conducting fluorescence and polarization microscopy.
During 2023, together with members of the lab we designed and built Micron, a microscope fully based in 3D printing. Equipped with a LED and CMOS sensor, everyone can document images of the micro universe that surround us by simple using their own cell phone or laptop. Click below for more information.
MICRON
for exploring the microscopic-universe
Inspired by our interest to teach microscopy we have developed several microscope based on 3D printing. Our early efforts were focused to implement a simple and economic tool to explore the microscopic-universe that surround us. Micron is a low-cost microscope–less than 90 USD–that allow to invite to the microscopists to learn about instrumentation. Current version includes WiFi connection enable to use the device in the classroom and projecting images in the students' cell phone.
GENES AND GENOMES
TEACHING IN SCHOOLS
How many genes do we have in our Genome? How long is a human chromosome? How genes work?
Genes and Genomes is an activity aimed for the youngest, and so much as well, to introduce them in the world of the DNA.
The activity is a short talk with didactic experience in building a DNA molecule. We take advantage of 3D and origami models to explore the structure of the double helix.
We have explored this workshop thanks to an agreement with Saint Joseph School (Huechuraba) partner in our outreach program. Together with professors of the Science departmetn of the school we have
SCIENCE FOR THE CITIZENSHIP (CPC)
(SMAT-C & CPEIP, MINEDUC, CHILE)
Starting at 2020, the lab joined efforts with the Soft Matter Research Center (SMAT-C) and the Physics Department at USACH to designed and prepare high School Science Teachers. The initiative, funding by CPEIP (Education Ministry), aim to prepare high school teachers for the updated of Science curricula. We collaborated in the generation of material and leading the workshops of "Health an d Wellness" and "Technology and Society". In particular we prepared multimedia contents and simulators related to nanotechnology. Find more in the link below.
PARTERING WITH EXPLORA RM
FECI AND 1000C-1000A
Members of the lab have participated in many activities organized by Explora, including Scientific Congress, Science and Technology fairs and the very well-known 1000 Scientiest-1000 classrooms, most of them organized during the Science Month.
Last year we were judges in the Science and Technology Congress, Explora RM-North. Moreover, at the end of the year we did a microscopy workshop based on Foldscope, as an activity of the Science Fair Explora, Santiago SouthWest RM.
