ICGEB - International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
ICGEB - International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
09/09/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 09/09/2024 08:46
Fascinating Journey into the human cell
What does the human cell look like from the inside? How does a virus infect a cell and ultimately cause cell death? ICGEB has developed an immersive experience to take you on a fascinating journey.
Isaac Asimov had already imagined this in one of his most compelling novels. It was 1966 when the science fiction and robotics writer brought out "Fascinating Journey," in which a group of researchers - miniaturised to the size of a bacteria - are injected into the blood system of a scientist to travel to his brain and to save him from a blood clot. Drawing inspiration from this journey, researchers at the ICGEB devised a software application to bring people closer to the complex world of the cell.
The project: "Fascinating Journey into the Human Cell" has been developed with the contribution of the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, and tested with partner institutes, and high schools in Trieste and neighboring Gorizia.
To popularize science, the researchers present the software and guide users into the parallel universe of the metaverse.
The software makes the experience realistic and in line with state-of-the-art scientific knowledge of the human cell. At present, it is available in Italian and English, however, we are also exploring the possibility of having it translated into Spanish and Chinese, due to interest expressed by scientists for public engagement.
The Fascinating Journey inside the Human Cell will be offered as an activity for the broader public at the ICGEB stand at Trieste Next from 27 to 29 September 2024 (Trieste Village, Piazza Unità d'Italia), at SHARPER during European Researchers' Night on Friday, 27 September (Piazza Unità d'Italia) and at the Trieste Science+Fiction Festival from 30 October to 3 November 2024.
The VR experience tested by students in high schools I.S.I.S. D'Annunzio - Max Fabiani in Gorizia and I.S.I.S "L. da Vinci - G.R. Carli - S. de Sandrinelli" in Trieste, partners in the development of the project.