What is BioPhyCom?
BioPhyCom is a science communication project aimed at children and young people aged 8-15 and is based on the research project "New nanodiscs to study GPCR signaling" ("NanoBelt", FWF I5359-N). At the heart of the project are school workshops organized by Ariane Pessentheiner and her team.
In BioPhysics-Comic-Workshops at schools or at the university, we first build up a knowledge base in the research field of "biomembranes" in a playful and experimental way. The students are then instructed in how to implement this knowledge in the form of science comics.
What are the aims of BioPhyCom?
Through a playful and creative approach to a complex topic, prejudices against STEM subjects are broken down and the importance of basic research is conveyed. Last but not least, the workshops are intended to arouse curiosity and interest in the natural sciences.
What is our research?
Our research group in the field of biophysics, led by Prof. Sandro Keller, is working intensively on research of biomembranes and the membrane proteins they contain. Membrane proteins make up about a third of all cellular proteins. They play key roles in the exchange of information and transport of substances between and within cells. Due to their diverse tasks and the possibility of influencing them from the outside, they are attractive targets for medical drug discovery. We are developing tools to study membrane proteins in their natural environment, the biomembrane. These tools are special polymers that wrap around a piece of membrane like a ring and enclose the proteins inside in so-called nanodiscs.
Who is funding the project?
The two-year project is funded by the FWF (WKP191-B; project start April 2023).
Visit and follow us on Instagram! There you will not only stay up to date on the project, but also receive creative and innovative news from the research area.