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The Children’s University is coming to the BioPark!

September 25th 2019

This month, the Children’s University is coming to Charleroi. On Wednesday, November 27, the BioPark will open its doors to young inquisitive minds, offering workshops dedicated to life and health sciences. Do not hesitate to sign your children up!

 

Since 2017, ULB has been organising weekly fun and educational activities on its Brussels campuses, known as the Children’s University. Workshops cover all fields of study: human and social sciences, science and technology, and life and health sciences. The initiative’s goal is to demystify the academic world and foster curiosity and the desire to learn in a fun environment, from a young age.

 

The Children’s University in Charleroi

In Brussels, the Children’s University teaches hundreds of budding students. Building on this success, ULB—in partnership with UMons, the Open University and several partners in the region—has decided to expand its activity to Charleroi. During the two semesters of the academic year, children aged 6 to 12 can attend one or several 90-minute workshops. These are held each Wednesday afternoon (except during school holidays). Naturally, the day dedicated to life and health sciences will be hosted by the BioPark.

 

Making biomedical science fun

How big is a microbe? What are antibiotics? How do vaccines protect us? The ten workshops organised on November 27 will be dedicated to questions like these.

How to get children excited over topics as complex as DNA, for instance? ‘We will present it as a police investigation!’ explains Arnaud Termonia, administrator at ULB Engagée ASBL.  ‘We will collect DNA samples left by a stuffed toy on a “crime scene”. By analysing the evidence, we can determine which of three suspected toys is guilty.’

 

Activities open to all

Registration to the Children’s University workshops in Charleroi is free. Young students can come to the Gosselies campus with a guardian, or on special buses offered by the city. ‘The Children’s University is open to all, and children of BioPark staff members are also welcome!’ adds Arnaud Termonia. ‘This is a great opportunity for children all across the region to learn about life and health sciences at the BioPark, the pride of the Charleroi area. The Children’s University also gives children a glimpse into a world they are unfamiliar with—who knows, perhaps some will find their calling!’

 

Information and registration at http://universitedesenfantscharleroi.be

 

Author: Candice Leblanc