Some 270 high school students experienced the work of scientists and researchers
The General Directorate of Secondary Education (DGES), the Education Training Council (CFE) and the Basic Sciences Development Program (Pedeciba) closed the Microinternships 2024 proposal, created so that high school students could learn about the work of researchers in various laboratories. The event brought together 270 students from seven departments, who presented their achievements and shared experiences. This proposal, whose closing took place yesterday, Tuesday the 29th, in the Mario Benedetti auditorium of Antel, is part of the Young Science program, which seeks to promote the approach of students of higher secondary education and training in education to research centers. and production of scientific knowledge. Through a microinternship, they can learn directly about the work of researchers in different laboratories.
This year, 80 groups of high school students participated, made up of 275 young people and 76 teachers, from 43 high schools in the departments of Canelones, Montevideo, Paysandú, Rocha, Salto, San José and Tacuarembó, along with 54 researchers from Pedeciba. The internships took place between August 19 and October 18, 2024 and allowed them to work in a real research environment, in areas such as mathematics, biology, physics, chemistry and computer science.
Present at the event were the head of the DGES, Jenifer Cherro; the advisor of the National Administration of Public Education (ANEP) Juan Gabito and the head of Pedeciba, David González. In the speech, Cherro celebrated the increase in territorial coverage of the program focused on 2nd and 3rd year high school students, given that young people’s interest in science increased and, therefore, the need to give them more opportunities. It works with a system of visits to different headquarters in the country.
The leader pointed out the work of teachers who awaken interest and vocation in their students and referred to the importance of inter-institutional and team work. “It is a day of reflection, of sharing experiences and of demonstrating that it was an instance of personal and collective growth,” he said.
Likewise, he reported that, within the framework of the educational transformation, which begins in high school in 2025, the aim is to promote the realization of practical work experiences in various companies linked to the interests of the students and thus encourage them to dedicate themselves to these areas. “It is organizing the resources we have to give our young people the possibility of a prior practice that encourages them to continue on the path they are on or change it if they wish,” he added.
With these experiences, which Cherro considered a stimulus, not only the students and teachers were enriched, but also the researchers who participated. In addition, he highlighted the value of the culture of work and effort. “The country of knowledge is fundamental, but also that of creativity and imagination, because it has no limits,” he said.
