2019_08_15_CIE_quimica_terapia

Two young patients from the Clínica Universidad de Navarra with chronic diseases have been able to learn more about Chemistry thanks to an initiative that aims to use science as therapy.

The goal of this project -which began in 2019- is "tonormalize the lives of the sick as much as possible" according to Belén Ochoa, manager of the Hospital Pedagogy Unit of the Clínica Universidad de Navarra. Ochoa has highlighted the learning that this experience has entailed: "The idea is that children and adolescents hospitalized due to an illness can learn Chemistry in the best possible way internship with a professional in the field and adapted materials". For her part, Carla Elizalde, coordinator of the Hospital Pedagogy Unit, stresses that "the aim is for patients to find normalizing and motivating contexts for their daily lives".

For one hour a week these patients have been able to learn different concepts from Chemistry through experiments adapted to their hospital status , their interests and concerns. "The project has started with workshops on different chemical topics such as the properties of water, fluorescence or forensic Chemistry activities" says Cristina Sola, professor of the School of Sciences of the University of Navarra and manager of the workshops.

The experiments have been carried out in the facilities of the Clínica Universidad de Navarra as well as in the laboratories of the School of Sciences of this university. Professor Sola has indicated that "the experiments have been designed ad casum, and in some specific cases oriented to explain the treatment that these same patients were receiving".

For the next course we intend to train volunteers, mainly students studying scientific careers but also teachers and professionals in the bio-health field, in order to expand and offer this service to area of Pediatrics and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.