“It was really interesting because it helps you see what a researcher does and what it’s like to work in a lab,” one student shared afterwards. Classmate Noor also learned a lot. About “the different ways of doing research, for example, and the many research phases. And about how immunotherapy works, and how many participants we need for trials.”
“The students were very engaged and curious,” says Davinia. “They asked interesting questions about our research and about daily life as scientists. When I was a student, I didn’t see many female role models in science, so I think it’s important to show that there are many women working in research.”
“Science is incredibly important for society and for our future,” Paula adds. “That’s why it’s so valuable to show the next generation what the life of a scientist looks like. Working in science is meaningful, of course, but even more importantly: it’s a lot of fun. You get to discover new things, collaborate with inspiring people, and truly make a difference.”
The students greatly appreciated the visiting researchers in their classroom. “This helps students learn more about research, and maybe feel encouraged pursuing it themselves,” one of them said. Noor added: “I thought it was fun and interesting, because it’s helpful when selecting a study program and it gives you a good idea of what you can actually do with the degree.” Another student shared: “It definitely inspired me to look more closely at study programs in this field.”
We organized this masterclass in collaboration with Oncology Graduate School Amsterdam, a partnership between Amsterdam UMC Cancer Center Amsterdam and the Netherlands Cancer Institute, which provides training and support for all their PhD students in cancer research.
Want to meet scientists as well? Over the weekend, Weekend van de Wetenschap offers anyone the opportunity, with more than 1,500 activities on science and technology taking place all across the country.