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What is Let’s Chat Medicine?
The Let’s Chat Medicine (LCM) programme gives young people a chance to learn about personalised medicine. Participants in this SFI-funded programme will work with scientific researchers, science communicators, and professional artists to turn what they learn about personalised medicine into interesting and easy-to-understand stories and visuals which will be shared with the public to help everyone understand this important topic better.
The LCM programme is modelled on a cycle of public engagement and involvement (PEI) which aims to connect and involve people from all walks of life with health-related research. This PEI cycle is delivered in partnership with Barretstown, CanTeen Ireland, Genomic Data Infrastructure Ireland and the Young Person’s Advisory Group at the National Children's Cancer Service.
What does the Let’s Chat Medicine cycle look like?
Stage 1:Recruitment of 30 young people aged 15-18 years old, who are passionate about science and medicine.
Stage 2 “Co-Creation”:Young participants join scientific researchers at UCD Campus to engage in educational and interactive workshops, where they learn about personalised medicine. Following this, participants spend 3 days at Barretstown Campus working with science communicators and artists to put what they had learned about personalised medicine into artistic visuals. Visuals from 2024’s workshop can be accessed here.
Stage 3 “Amplification”:Visuals, depicting topics of personalised medicine, are shared at public facing events. Details of upcoming events will be posted here.
Stage 4 “Progression”:Young participants and scientific researchers involved in the Let’s Chat Medicine co-creation stage are signposted to alternative PEI opportunities. And so, the public engagement and involvement cycle continues! For upcoming opportunities, please click here.
Applications for Let’s Chat Medicine 2025 are now open!
This year's Let's Chat Medicine programme will again take place over 5 days - June 2 - 6, 2025. The first two days of the initiative will take place at UCD, where participants will take part in structured workshops related to this year's theme of Personalised Medicine. The workshops will provide ample opportunity for engagement with researchers and will include ice-breaker activities, lab tours and focus groups. The participants will then spend three days on the Barretstown campus working with researchers, artists and experienced science communicators to co-create a portfolio of accessible multi-media content covering what they’ve learned, which will be shared on various public and social media platforms.
Participants of Let's Chat Medicine 2025 will not only learn about the science behind personalised medicine, but will also gain insight into the many potential careers available through their extensive interactions with professionals in the research, teaching/learning, education and public engagement, science communications, art and charity/non-profit spaces. It is hoped participants will leave the programme with a better understanding of how to talk about personalised medicine and communicate the ideas behind the science on a wider level. They will also receive a letter of programme completion which may open the door to future opportunities.
Who can apply?
Anyone between the ages of 15 - 18 years old can apply. We are looking for people with an interest in science and/or medicine and art.
How to apply:
Fill out the linked (opens in a new window)Google form to give us a bit of background information on yourself including your contact details, your parent/guardian contact details and 100 words on why you want to take part in Let's Chat Medicine 2025. If you have any issues with the form, just email us at (opens in a new window)lcm@ucd.ie to let us know.
Deadline: 12pm (midday), Tuesday 18th March
Instagram - (opens in a new window)@lets.chat.medicine
The Let’s Chat Medicine programme is supported in part by funding from Research Ireland.
