The first High School Student Science Week (HSSW) of 2025 ran from April 28 to May 2. Held twice a year, HSSW invites Grade 11 and 12 students from across the Lower Mainland to explore HLI’s labs and gain hands-on experience with molecular biology techniques. Experiences like these highlight how HLI connects students to real-world science and sparks curiosity across disciplines, continuing a tradition of mentorship and collaboration that stretches back to 1977.
As part of their visit, students had the unique opportunity to be exposed to biobanking and pathology. At the Bruce McManus Cardiovascular Biobank and James Hogg Lung Biobank, they handled preserved human heart and lung tissues, which was an eye-opening experience for many seeing real organs up close for the first time. In the histology session, they learned to prepare tissue samples by trimming paraffin blocks and using a microtome to make thin slices for microscopic analysis.
The group also toured several HLI research cores where staff introduced them to the tools and workflows behind scientific discovery. A highlight for many included a tour of the Anatomical Pathology Lab at St. Paul’s Hospital, where students examined other surgically explanted specimens.
The fall intake for HSSW will open in October. Stay tuned!
