Human mesenchymal stromal cells from adipose tissue - The cells were differentiated into fat cells and fat droplets were stained green. Cell nuclei were stained blue. [Copyright: Institute for Biomedical Engineering – Cell Biology, UK Aachen]
What is the daily routine of a stem cell researcher like? Do you have to take care of other things besides the cells? Who feeds the cells on weekends? How is a lab organized? Who decides whether you go to conferences? The app "Dish Life: The Game" addresses these and many other questions and provides a playful insight into the everyday life of a stem cell researcher. The game simulates different stages and aspects of the career of stem cell researchers and informs users about the scientific processes involved in stem cell research. The social and ethical dilemmas involved are also addressed.
When starting the app, users design their own avatar and slip into the role of an inexperienced student. Then they can climb the career ladder to a professorship by differentiating stem cells and supplying them with nutrients or writing research papers and taking on tasks in the lab, it is possible.
The English-language version of the game was developed jointly by sociologists and stem cell researchers from the renowned University of Cambridge. The app has been very well received and is even used to train student assistants and technical staff. BBC also reported on it. At the end of 2021, the Stem Cell Network NRW arranged for the app to be translated into German and supervised its content. This was made possible thanks to funding from the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of NRW.
The app can be downloaded free of charge:
Mit Hilfe aus Düsseldorf hat die Spiele-App einer britischen Elite-Uni jetzt beste Chancen auf dem deutschen Markt. In „Dish Life“ bekommen Nutzer Einblicke in die Aufgaben und auch Dilemmas eines Stammzellforschers. - zur Pressemitteilung.
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