IB

Trip to Helsinki

12.06.2017

On 8th February, DP 1 students had a wonderful trip to Helsinki. We have visited Institute of Biotechnology, to be more precise, we explored Electron Microscope facility. We were hosted by the professor Eija Jokitalo and her team.

We had a fascinating excursion in the laboratories, where we could see how scientists work, what technologies they use in their everyday life. Scientists, Darshan Kumar, Behnam Lak and Ilya Belevich, explained us the structure of endoplasmic reticulum of the cell, replication of viruses, neural cells and cancer cells. Moreover, there was an opportunity for us to work on computers for a while, to look at small organisms using Electron Microscopes.

Electron Microscope is used to investigate the ultrastructure of a wide range of biological and inorganic specimens including microorganisms, cells, large molecules, biopsy samples, metals, and crystals.

It was very useful and knowledgeable trip not only for biology students, but also for those who study physics and chemistry. It was wonderful experience for everybody as well. As DP 1 students have to write their Internal Assessment in biology, physics and chemistry, they may get some ideas for their research from that trip. It also has to be mentioned, that we had so much fun spending time in Helsinki after visiting the Institute of Biotechnology.

Many thanks to our IB biology teacher Agata Marzecova for perfectly organized, knowledgeable, widening our horizon and amazing trip to Finland!

Krystyna Chernykh
IB student (DP1)