By EyeYPAG,
On Saturday 20 June eyeYPAG helped co-deliver UCL200 Child Health Science for All.
At our ‘eyes and vision’ station we had two epic researchers with us from the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, sharing their research with children and their families:
We also had a simulation package of glasses (thanks to VINE – Visual Impairment North-East) so children could have a go at conducting activities like drawing and colouring or playing cards, with different eye conditions, and appreciate what it is like for people with those conditions. Finally eyeYPAG supported children to play the award winning game of ‘No-one left behind’, where they have to think through the needs of five animals and help them progress across four different terrains to reach the end. One of our eyeYPAG members reflected on what she saw the children enjoying, when they were playing:
“they can be really imaginative and there is only one rule – no-one left behind!”
Children spent A LOT of time, carefully planning the route for the five animals!
Additionally, eyeYPAG had the opportunity to put their interview training into action. They took turns asking the UCL researchers questions on their research, including why they had been interested in their different topics such as:
Their training certainly paid off – their questions were well prepared, focused on what would be interesting to the audience (children, parents, researchers) and they were able to relax into conversations where they sensitivity responded to the researchers answers – real skills on display!
“Taking part in the UCL200 eyeYPAG event and being part of the team has been a fascinating experience. During the event, I had the opportunity to interview a researcher about kidney function, try virtual reality headsets and help create content working alongside the UCL social media team. It was inspiring to learn more about medical research and see how young people can contribute to important conversations about health and science “
“I started by opening up the interview panel by asking questions with James Tapper to Giovanni Giobbe about his stem cell research. I found it really interesting to hear about his stem cell research and how his work can help to treat certain conditions. I then helped out some of the YPAG members with the walking interviews. I also spoke to some of the other staff members working at different tables to hear what their activities were about. Overall I thought that the day was really successful and I was so intrigued to hear all the other stands as well as to interact with the adults and children who were from the public”
“In the UCL event I was able to interview Hugo Bow-Wing-Bom,and I asked about his work on using VR to show how certain eye conditions felt. This VR simulation was also able to be seen at our YPAG stall,along with other fun,educational games. I learnt about sickle cell and its effects in life and education. I felt privileged to learn so much in the time I was there”.
“The meet the scientist interviews were amazing – asked by young people and answered for a young audience. Honestly I’ve never understood research projects better! This is how they should present research always – it is so much more engaging!. . . what a great event!”
“I learnt that my heart rate goes up when you do exercise and it goes down when you breathe in and out. I felt inspired because my brother was interviewing Hugo and when I grow up I might interview someone. My favourite bit was making DNA out of icing and putting it on a cupcake”
“When I was at UCL I had an amazing experience. I got to interact with professors and run a stall to talk about eye diseases like Diabetic Retinopathy,Glaucoma and Cataracts”
“This helped my social skills and I learnt a lot from this experience. I got to see what happens behind the stalls and even work in one. It was a one life experience. If I had another chance to go back to UCL I would take it!”
Celebrating a year since the inaugural session of our YPAG in November 2017, the greatest number of young people ever attended the meeting – 20 – including five new young people. Welcome!
How children, young people and families have improved the design, development and delivery of paediatric research.
These scenarios have been developed and tested by Generation R YPAGs.
