Bayer’s new hands-on ‘Heart Mechanics’ workshop aims to inspire the cardio engineers of the future

January 17, 2020

Bayer’s new hands-on ‘Heart Mechanics’ workshop aims to inspire the cardio engineers of the future

The latest learning resource available free for schools at the Baylab science laboratory.

Heart Mechanics workshop

1/5
2/5
3/5
4/5
5/5

Three students in blue uniforms work together; one holds an apple, another writes on a clipboard, and the third observes. They stand in a classroom setting.

Children finding out about how the heart works

Two boys in school uniforms smile while holding colorful toy fruits and vegetables at a market stall display. One boy holds a shopping basket.

Children finding out about how the heart works

Students in lab coats participate in a classroom activity, sitting at tables with worksheets. A presentation titled "Biotech: Heart Valves" is displayed on a screen in the background.

Children finding out about how the heart works

Children in white coats use stethoscopes in a classroom, engaging in a hands-on learning activity.

Children finding out about how the heart works

A group of students in lab coats gather around a woman demonstrating an experiment with a red cylinder in a science classroom.

Children finding out about how the heart works

An educational initiative offering schools free workshops on the cardiovascular system has launched at the Baylab science laboratory, located at Bayer UK’s HQ in Reading
The ‘Heart Mechanics’ workshop will educate students aged 7-13 on heart health and support teachers to deliver on the national curriculum for science in an innovative and engaging way
Baylab is a purpose built, state-of-the-art laboratory, designed to bring science to life and inspire future scientists by providing access to technology and hands-on experiments, not readily available in schools

Bayer UK has revealed the latest Baylab workshop, the ‘Heart Mechanics’, a series of free workshops for schoolchildren aged 7-13 designed to educate on the cardiovascular system and heart health. The workshops will be held at Baylab, a purpose-built state-of-the-art science laboratory, located at the Bayer UK headquarters in Reading.

‘Heart Mechanics’ is a four-hour workshop that has been created to support teachers to deliver the national curriculum for science and aims to enhance the learning experience in an innovative and fun way. Students will have the opportunity to create their own fake blood, use oximeters to measure heart rate and conduct experiments to better understand how the cardiovascular system works. The workshop will also help students understand the vital role of the heart, its functions and the circulatory system and why it is important to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle.

To foster engagement on these topics, students will take part in interactive activities and be introduced to a real ‘heart mechanic’ – Dr Klaus Witte, Senior Lecturer and Consultant Cardiologist, University of Leeds and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Dr Witte will describe the heart as the ‘engine’ which powers the machine which is our bodies and the circulatory system as the ‘roads’, delivering vital blood and oxygen to the organs. Students will also be introduced to diseases that can make the ‘machine’ stop working and the healthy life choices that prevent complications and how to maintain good cardiovascular health.

“The Heart Mechanics workshop at Baylab offers a novel approach to teaching schoolchildren about the heart and science in general” states Dr Klaus Witte. “Cardiovascular disease continues to be a challenge for society and a major limitation to healthy ageing; therefore, it is crucial that younger generations are educated on the function of the heart and the cardiovascular system and how sensible lifestyle and dietary choices can contribute to overall long term health and wellbeing.”

Baylab has been operating since March 2017 but was officially opened in June 2018 by Prime Minister Theresa May and has held more than 200 workshops and welcomed over 7,000 students and 600 teachers to date. It was created by Bayer to help spark an interest in science in young people, while helping to address the needs of teachers who, when consulted, said they wanted more time and facilities to focus on practical science. To date, Baylab has benefited schools from the local community and across the country and welcomes pupils of all abilities.

The Heart Mechanics workshop is specifically focused on the cardiovascular system and is the latest topic in a variety of existing workshops available for schools. The workshop is part of a broader initiative which will see the workshop offered to schools across the country and run a national science competition for schools to win science and sports equipment. For details of this competition please visit https://www.bayer.co.uk/en/baylab/competitions/.

“The Baylab provides a unique teaching experience as it has been specially designed to help bring science to life, using equipment and resources not often available to pupils and teachers.” commented Emma Schierbaum, Baylab Manager. “As a teacher myself, I know how children can benefit from an interactive, hands-on learning experience, especially on complex subjects such as cardiovascular health. I’m excited to welcome pupils to the first Heart Mechanics workshop and look forward to future workshops with schools from across the country”.