The Citizen Science Lab, a nonprofit dedicated to providing STEM programming for Pittsburgh residents, is launching a new program for local high school students in underserved communities.
The program, which is backed by a $75,000 grant from the Pittsburgh Foundation and is being conducted in collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University, is called C3-PO.
But the program is not centered "Star Wars," or the famed protocol droid with who it shares a name, but rather, biology and engineering. In this case, C3-PO standing for “the Collaborative for the 3D Printing of Organs.”
The program will see a cohort of 10-15 students learning about the processes involved in soft-tissue biofabrication through hands-on experience in tissue culturing and printing organs, as well as the effects that these technologies can have on modern medicine. It is expected to launch in August 2022.
“The goals of this project are to bring the forefront of innovation in biomedical engineering and 3D bioprinting to young students to inspire them, and give them some real hands-on experience that will put them ahead of their peers if they decide to pursue an education or career in a related field,” said Dr. Rachelle Palchesko, special faculty researcher of biomedical engineering at CMU. “The project will expose them to areas of biomedical engineering and STEM that most students only learn about once they get into college.”
The goals of the program go beyond introducing students to STEM fields and research opportunities cultivated by local universities and research labs; through the program, CMU and The Citizen Science Lab are looking to grow Pittsburgh’s diverse, transdisciplinary workforce and make the city a leader in biofabrication.
