On Friday 22 July 2016, staff from the MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS participated in the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) Open Day that was held at the UVRI Entebbe-based Campus, which is also home to the MRC Uganda Unit head offices.

More than twenty schools participated in the Open Day, organized under the theme, “Science, the Future and Me”, bringing together more than 1,000 primary 5 and 6 pupils from schools in Wakiso and Kampala districts.

At the event, Unit staff displayed some of the exciting work that is conducted at our leading on-campus laboratories in a manner that is accessible to young people, alongside scientists from other UVRI- campus-based research institutions.

The Open day provided an opportunity for young people, interested in science, to learn about research, interact with practicing scientists and researchers as well as to explore the possibility of a science - research career. The Open day was also meant to give the children a hand-on opportunity to explore science outside their classrooms.

This was the third open day organized by UVRI and her partners, but it is the first to target Primary school children. The previous open days, conducted in 2009 and 2013 targeted University, tertiary institutions and secondary schools. By organizing platforms such as this event, the UVRI and the participating institutions galvanize the government policy of prioritizing and promoting science subjects in Uganda’s education system.