How do you introduce cutting-edge science to young learners - and keep it both accurate and exciting? On June 11 and 12, 2025, second- and third-year middle school students at the International School of Trieste (IST) were invited to explore the fascinating world of regenerative medicine in an engaging, interactive workshop titled “Smart Science that Helps the Body Heal.” 

Led by science communicator Sabine Kienzl from Promoscience - one of InterLynk’s partner organisations - the workshop welcomed around 45 students across two sessions. 

The sessions began by opening up a simple question: what happens when the body can’t heal itself? That’s where regenerative medicine steps in. Students learned that it’s a field constantly evolving - refining biomaterials and techniques to help the body rebuild damaged tissues more effectively. 

From this starting point, the discussion shifted to how researchers are working to improve materials that can support tissue repair. One major focus is the development of scaffolds -  3D structures that can serve as frameworks for cells to attach, grow, and gradually form new tissue. These scaffolds don’t just act as passive supports; they interact with cells, mimicking the natural environment of the body. 

Enter the InterLynk project: a European research effort working to create advanced scaffolds using human platelet lysates - nutrient-rich substances derived from blood plasma - as one of their core components. These platelet lysates are not just a minor ingredient; they’re the very foundation of the project’s innovative hydrogel-based scaffolds. Still in development, these scaffolds aim to accelerate healing while being highly biocompatible and adaptable to patient-specific needs. 

The workshop wasn’t limited to theory. Using the live polling platform Mentimeter, students were asked to imagine what science might be able to regenerate 100 years from now. Answers ranged from the pragmatic - “missing tissues” - to the futuristic - “an entire human body.” 

The highlight for many came at the end: a chance to test their skills in Tissue Trek – The InterLynk Scaffold Safari, a science-based educational videogame developed by Promoscience. In the game, players guide Lysa, a drop of platelet lysate, as she delivers her cargo to different parts of a jaw joint.  Her mission is to supply hydrogel buddies with the growth factors they need—growth factors that, in real-life medical research, can play an essential role in guiding tissue regeneration. 

The artistic visuals were a hit, and so was the challenge. Players had to answer science questions and apply coding commands to navigate the game world and reach the final goal: regenerating a jaw joint. In fact, what impressed everyone most was that several students - though still in middle school - managed to finish the full high-school version of the game, including its coding-based challenges. 

The workshop may have only lasted about an hour and a half, but it opened the door to a complex world where biology, materials science, and engineering come together. As students walked out of the classroom, they weren’t just leaving with new facts - they were carrying the building blocks of scientific awareness. And who knows? One day, they might be the ones helping to build the next generation of smart scaffolds for regenerative healing.