Persistence, humility and competitiveness are some of the many qualities you need to be a sporting hero. As it turns out, the same talents (and many others) are also required to do outstanding research.
Which are the shared values between science and sports? What can stem cell researchers learn by looking at professional athletes?
Eight world-class Italian champions, including Daniele Gilardoni (11 times rowing world champion) and Paolo Rossi (1982 FIFA World Cup winner) will meet with high school students to address these and other questions at the UniStem Day 2012, a dissemination event about stem cell research that will bring together 9,000 students in 20 cities all over Italy on 9th March 2012.
Together with stem cell scientists, the athletes will share their views on what is similar between scientific and professional sports careers, and will discuss the latest findings about the fate of stem cells during physical activity. Recent studies suggest that doing sports, just like learning, promotes the transformation of brain stem cells into new neurons, a process called neurogenesis.
The UniStem Day 2012 is the largest dissemination initiative about stem cells in Italy so far, and a major one in the EU. The event is organised by UniStem, the Centre for Stem Cell Research at the University of Milan and is sponsored by EU projects NeurostemCell and EuroStemCell.
“Students will have the opportunity to interact with prominent sport personalities and discuss stem cell research. And they will find out that doing sport is good for the muscles but also increase the life-long potential of the most complex organ in the universe: our brain, ” says UniStem co-founder and Neurostemcell’s coordinator Elena Cattaneo.
See all posts about UniStem Day 2012
The following athletes will take part to the UniStem Day 2012
Antonella Bellutti (Trento)
Two-time Olympic champion in track cycling.
Daniele Gilardoni (Milano)
11 times rowing world champion
Pasquale Gravina (Campobasso)
Gold medal in 1994 and 1998 at Volleyball World Championship, Silver medal at 1996 Summer Olympics and bronze medal at 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Gianluca Lulli (Teramo)
Captain of Teramo Basket, Italy.
Paolo Pizzo (Catania)
Gold medal, Épée, 2011 World Fencing Championships.
Franco Porzio (Napoli)
2 times LEN Champions League Champion,LEN Cup Winners’ Cup Champion, captain of Posillipo water polo club 1991-1998.
Paolo Rossi (Firenze)
1982 FIFA World Cup winner, FIFA World Player of the Year, 1982.
CUS Cagliari Women Basket Team + Rugby Cagliari (Cagliari)
Facebook: http: www.facebook.com/unistem
Twitter: @unistem2012 hashtag: #unistem2012
