Science Up Close: LBI Trauma Hosts Vienna Daughters’ Day
An exciting and varied programme once again awaited young researchers at this year’s Vienna Daughters’ Day at LBI Trauma. With great curiosity and skill, the girls experienced first-hand how diverse and hands-on modern accident research can be – from working under the microscope to harvesting living cells.
On 24 April, the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Traumatology, the research centre in cooperation with AUVA (short “LBI Trauma”), opened its laboratory doors in Vienna’s 20th district for Vienna Daughters’ Day. Twelve enthusiastic girls aged between ten and fifteen put on white lab coats, safety goggles, and picked up pipettes to transform into young scientists. In addition to everyday research activities such as microscopy and pipetting, the girls also harvested real skin cells and transferred them into new cell culture flasks.
“Research and science are far more than chemical formulas and processes. At Vienna Daughters’ Day, interested girls can experience science up close. We give them the opportunity to develop enthusiasm for research and the search for explanations of previously unexplained scientific phenomena,” said Elvira Welzig, Managing Director of the Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft.
The importance of encouraging future female scientists was further underlined by the visit of Christine Dubravac-Widholm, District Head of Brigittenau. She shared her own experiences in the laboratory, spoke about her studies in cultural engineering and water management, and put an emphasis on the district’s commitment to supporting young talents in STEM fields through her visit.
Fascinating Insights into the World of Accident Research
LBI Trauma’s mission is to sustainably and holistically improve the diagnosis and treatment of traumatic injuries and their consequences. For Vienna Daughters’ Day, the LBI organised a diverse programme, which offered young aspiring scientists exciting insights into the world of trauma research and science.
A particular highlight of the day was the preparation of fibrin glue – co-developed at LBI Trauma – by the young researchers themselves. They learned from experienced scientists about its crucial role in wound healing. Afterwards, the girls applied their knowledge by independently testing the glue’s effectiveness in treating a simulated tissue defect.
During a final tour of the institute, Heinz Redl, former Director of LBI Trauma, shared captivating stories from 40 years of research, complementing the insights the young scientists had gained throughout the day with realistic and engaging reports from the world of trauma research.
