Stem Cells Rock

Overview

Project Summary

The field of stem cell research has evolved dramatically in recent years, opening up countless avenues and bringing a wide range of knowledge to the field of biomedicine. Alongside the progress in this area, there are a number of social, economic and personal impacts, which makes it urgent to provide clear and appealing communication and to bring this topic into the arena of public discussion. The general public's perception that stem cells are those that are collected and preserved when a baby is born falls far short of the reality. Stem cells are much more than that. All our organs have stem cells that allow our body to renew itself and function optimally on a daily basis. When this process of stem cell renewal fails, the human body enters a process of disease. On the other hand, there are organs in which the reservoir of stem cells is very small and their capacity for regeneration is therefore diminished. These issues need to be addressed so that people are aware that human longevity, in healthy conditions, depends a lot on the ability to maintain these processes of renewal, based on stem cells, and how they are affected by modern lifestyles.

The use of artistic languages to communicate various scientific topics has been used with great success. Art has the ability to engage, arouse emotions and foster critical thinking, essential dimensions for effective science communication and education. The educational approach of a “well-disposed talk-show” avoids the use of expressions such as “you can't”, “you shouldn't”, “don't”... which often have the opposite effect on society, particularly among younger people. The “talk-show” style makes it possible to have different moments: with “interview spaces”, with satires on product marketing moments such as “Melhoral - it's neither good nor bad” - thus trying to combat some pseudoscience - and sketches alluding to the theme of longevity and stem cells, in which different characters take center stage throughout the performance, thus making it possible to change cell type/character and create a script that allows different systems and organs of the human body to be addressed. It also allows for humorous and dramatic moments to address issues such as birth, development, health and death, in a light and dynamic way that captures the viewer's attention and at the same time raises awareness of the importance of living a healthy life. In this talk-show, the band “Stem-cells Rock!” will be made up of characters who take on different roles beyond the musical and “jump” into the interview space with a leading role at different moments in a show with theatrical dynamics.
With this project we intend to develop a pilot of this “Talk-Show: Stem Cells Rock!” with a public presentation to young sections of society by mobilizing secondary school students. This presentation will serve as a test and gather opinions and suggestions for improvement from the participants, with a view to building a larger project and presenting it on a national scale. It will be an important event for promoting literacy in the area of stem cells, but also an essential moment for evaluating and leveraging this nationwide project. The pilot show will take place on Stem Cell Day (October 9), with the support of the Portuguese Society for Stem Cells and Cell Therapy.  

Project Details