Colleagues from our Pathology Teams were at Eureka! The National Children’s Museum in Halifax as part of National Pathology Week.

They let their little (and not-so-little) visitors get hands-on to learn about the importance of pathology through playful activities, including:

• Play with blood in blood bags (it wasn’t real!)
• Learn where different kinds of bugs hide on the body
• Dress up as laboratory staff
• Learn about worms and the importance of handwashing
• Practice pipetting into test tubes
• Look down a microscope at different tissue types
• Examine faecal samples (again, not real)

Clinical Director of Pathology, Anu Rajgopal, said: “National Pathology Week is our annual celebration of pathology, when we highlight the important contribution pathologists make to healthcare.

"Our theme this year was 'Pathologists and Patients' when we highlighted the essential work pathology staff do to help patients by improving public awareness and understanding of how pathologists and scientists diagnose disease."

One visiting schoolteacher fed back with: “It was amazing that we could participate in discussions with NHS staff. The children were very engaged and inquisitive (they especially liked the poo in the vials!)”.

Anu added: “I just want to express my gratitude and appreciation to all colleagues who were involved in making the event possible.

"They demonstrated commitment, teamwork and exceptional creative skills and I’m sure they will have inspired several children to explore the fascinating world of pathology.”

The photos below were provided by the team at Eureka!