VIRUSES, NEWS AND MICROBIOLOGISTS IN TODAY’S SOCIETY

TORRES, CRISTINA; SARTORI, MELINA; GARCIA, DAIANA; ESCOBAR, FRANCO; ROVERA, MARISA; DE LA BARRERA, MARÍA LAURA

BIOCELL

Comité científico Sociedades de Biología de la República Argentina

Año: 2021 vol. 45 p. 53 - 53

0327-9545

With the premise that scientific disclosure allows the link between science and society, providing knowledge to an audience that is clearly anessential actor in health prevention, our objective is to improve the skills of future professionals so that not only have knowledge of microbiology,particularly, virology but also that they can mobilize, transfer and make decisions in the field of scientific research, diagnosis, and characterization ofviral agents, considering in all cases the social impact of this action. The present work proposal was mandatory for the subject Virology andDiagnostic Virology, of the fourth and fifth years of Microbiology (UNRC). In the first instance, we worked on scientific disclosure productions(2016–2018), a totally innovative experience for the subject, being outstanding, from the disciplinary and social aspects, the productions obtained, aswell as during the development process of the same, the student bonding, engagement, and connection beyond the limits of the classroom. In the year2019, we presented the PIIMEG work project Viruses are in the news, the pandemic generated by SARS CoV-2 in the present year, accelerated theobjectives of work for the course Diagnostic Virology. Virological knowledge became vertiginous worldwide, manifesting itself in the news of allkinds and scientific publications, which led us to raise and debate about the content of the subject and recently published research, as proved to be thedesign of new diagnostic equipment to determine the circulation of the pandemic virus in the same experience of implementation. The resultsachieved in this context were extremely productive, the uncertainty of real-life was shared and the emergence of new virological knowledge to betreated in the subject. This allowed discussion of the subject, its validation, implementation of new diagnostic equipment, strengthening capacitiesthrough the design and implementation of solutions to the various specific problems triggered by the SARS CoV-2. Capacities that are expected of amicrobiologist, especially in the exercise of their profession and that must be stimulated. In addition, the social and ethical commitment that shouldbe manifested in their professional practice was strengthened and highlighted, through the evaluation of the various voices of internationalvirologists. The evaluation focused on the processes carried out and the achievements of the activity, planned or not.