“UniStem Day has always been about making science come alive,” said Professor Malin Parmar, Coordinator of the Lund Stem Cell Center and founder of the Lund edition of UniStem Day. “It’s about sparking curiosity and giving students a glimpse into how science can shape the future. The 10th anniversary is a reminder of how much we’ve achieved over the years, and how much potential there is for the next generation of scientists.”
Since its inception at Lund University in 2015, UniStem Day has become a highly anticipated event, growing into an important scientific outreach initiative in southern Sweden. This year, students from Consensum Gymnasium, Rönnegymnasiet, Gymnasieskola Spyken, Pauliskolan, and several other schools took part, immersing themselves in a day packed with discovery, hands-on learning, and career inspiration.
A Day of Discovery and Interactive Science
From the very first session, UniStem Day 2025 was designed to break down barriers between students and science. Throughout the day, students had the unique opportunity to learn directly from researchers in areas such as cellular reprogramming, stem cell-based therapies, and tissue regeneration.
The morning sessions featured lectures covering topics like “Chicken Embryo as Research Model for Stem Cells”, “Cellular Reprogramming – Hacking Bad Cells to Become the Good Guys”, “The Role of Bioinformatics in Stem Cell Research,” and “Advanced Therapeutic Medical Products (ATMPs) - A New Chapter for Medicine History.” These talks set the stage for a deeper exploration of the field, inspiring students to ask questions and think critically about stem cell research.
The excitement continued into the hands-on workshops, where students swapped notebooks for lab coats, trying their hands at experiments led by PhD students, postdoctoral fellows, and senior researchers.
"I'm glad to be here for UniStem Day. It's great to get a mix of theory and hands-on aspects, and get insider information from people working in science. Learning what day-to-day life is like for researchers, seeing inside the lab, and hearing more than just the usual facts about university life has been really insightful," said Hanna Brand, a student at Gymnasieskola Spyken in Lund.
Workshop topics ranged from “Can You Grow a Brain in a Dish?”, where students explored how human and monkey brain organoids are developed, to “Transplant Cells into the Brain and find them”, where they learned how transplanted cells can be tracked inside the brain. A special highlight this year, was “CSI Lund”, where students became DNA detectives, solving scientific mysteries through genetic analysis.
“It was incredible to see how engaged the students were in these workshops,” said Kerstin Laurin, a PhD student at Lund Stem Cell Center and event volunteer coordinator. “We want them to see that science isn’t just in textbooks, it’s something happening right here, right now and to let them be the scientist for a few hours. It’s about learning, experimenting, and discovering together.”
Exploring Careers in Science
Beyond the science itself, UniStem Day 2025 once again provided a valuable glimpse into career paths in research and medicine.
During an interactive career session, students heard from Associate Professors Mattias Magnusson and Henrik Ahlenius as well as student ambassadors from Lund University’s Faculty of Science and Faculty of Medicine. The session tackled common questions:
- What does it take to become a scientist?
- How can I get involved in research as a student?
- What are the different career opportunities in science?
Anouschka de Bruijn, a student ambassador for the Lund University Molecular Biology master's program, shared her personal connection to the day: "UniStem Day has come full circle for me; I attended as a high school student and was captivated by the possibilities science offered. Now, nine or ten years later, I am here representing the Molecular Biology program at Lund University and it's incredibly fulfilling. I hope to inspire students today just as I was inspired back then, potentially planting the seed in at least one mind to pursue a future in science."
“It has been an inspiring day. I had already thought about continuing my studies, but not sure when or in what. So, it has been great to see inside the lab and explore all the different possibilities. Today has definitely made me more excited about studying further, and the idea of maybe being able to do that in Lund,” reflected Melker Tågsjö, a student at Rönnegymnasiet in Ängelholm.
10 Years of UniStem Day at Lund University
As UniStem Day celebrated its 10th anniversary in Lund, organizers reflected on how far the event has come—and where it’s headed next. Since Lund University joined the UniStem initiative in 2015, the event has grown into a key STEM outreach program, connecting hundreds of students with leading research.
“Events like UniStem Day are more important than ever,” said Maria Jassinskaja, Research Associate at Lund Stem Cell Center and event administrator. “We’re not just teaching students about stem cells; we’re showing them how science can be exciting and relevant to their everyday lives. This is how we inspire the next generation of innovators.”
With UniStem Day 2025 now behind us, its impact will continue to ripple into the future. Many of the students who attended may one day find themselves back at Lund University—not as visitors, but as the next generation of scientists, engineers, and medical researchers.
“We want that the students who participated today to leave with a lasting sense of wonder and excitement for science,” said Nicholas Leigh, Associate Professor at Lund University and event coordinator. “By interacting with and seeing firsthand the diverse group of scientists at the Stem Cell Center, we aim to challenge stereotypes about what a scientist looks like, thereby further inspiring students to embark on their own journey into science.”
