The activity “The Case of the Nahare and Their Mystery” was designed and organized by Dr. Mar Puigdellívol and Dr. Gerard Callejo, researchers at the Institute of Neurosciences at the University of Barcelona. This original scientific outreach initiative took place with first-year high school students from the Can Jofresa Institute in Terrassa, with the goal of bringing neuroscience research closer to young students in a dynamic and interactive way.
Through a scientific Escape Room, students were immersed in an investigation where they had to solve a mystery related to an Amazonian tribe, the Nahare, who suffered from a strange condition. The activity was designed to simulate the scientific research process, placing students in a situation where they had to apply the scientific method to analyze various aspects of the nervous system and behavioral disorders.
Participants went through different research laboratories where they had to solve puzzles and analyze clues, such as ancient manuscripts, anatomical drawings of the nervous system, behavioral videos of transgenic animals with cognitive alterations, and tissue samples observed through optical microscopy. This allowed them to investigate the structure and function of the nervous system, as well as its relationship with the perception of different stimuli, such as pain, touch, temperature, and proprioception, with a clearly interactive and experimental approach.
The activity included various scientific challenges where students had to investigate sensory perception mechanisms, cognitive disorders, and nervous system function. Brain clearing techniques (CUBIC) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were some of the tools used in this educational experience.
Students kept a laboratory notebook where they recorded their results and conclusions, creating an educational experience in which research was not just a passive activity but an active and participatory investigation.
The activity was supported by Uxía Fraga and Paula Martínez, PhD students at the Institute of Neurosciences, who actively participated in facilitating and assisting with the experience.
This initiative is part of the work that Dr. Mar Puigdellívol and Dr. Gerard Callejo have been developing for years. Both researchers have extensive experience in creating and organizing scientific outreach activities aimed at elementary, middle, and high school students. The goal of these activities is to inspire young people to learn about and engage with neuroscience and the nervous system, using interactive and practical methods to spark their scientific curiosity.
This unique experience allowed students not only to learn about the nervous system and perception but also to personally experience the scientific research process, giving them a practical and in-depth understanding of how neuroscience research is conducted.
More about Otreach Activities at UBneuro