Between science, health and inclusion: children visit NutriLab and aTOPlab

On July 6, a group of children from “O Recreio” School, aged between 4 and 12, had the opportunity to explore the world of science alongside researchers from a range of different fields, at ciTechCare.

Divided into two sessions, the children took part in a hands-on activity where they learned how healthy gummies are developed as part of the FRUIGU project. Hosted at NutriLab, the activity was coordinated by researcher Marisa Gaspar and conducted by research fellow Solange Castanheira, with the support of student Miguel Colaço. The aim was to show younger generations how science and research can help shape the future of nutrition and health.

The aTOPlab team was also delighted to welcome the children to a space where they could discover and try out a variety of assistive technologies used by people with disabilities.

Throughout the activity, the children were encouraged to experience, in a practical and engaging way, some of the challenges associated with visual, hearing, and motor impairments, symbolically putting themselves “in someone else’s shoes.” This experience fostered empathy, inclusion, and awareness of the importance of accessibility, respect for diversity, and equal opportunities.

We believe that educating children about inclusion from an early age is a fundamental step towards building a fairer, more accessible, and more inclusive society.

ciTechCare would like to thank the ‘O Recreio’ School for their interest and for visiting the facilities at Campus 5 of the Polytechnic of Leiria, where science happens every day. Who knows—perhaps one day we will welcome some of these young, curious visitors back as researchers.