What does it mean to think and work like a scientist? How do you turn ideas into experiments? For the fifth time, the BSSA – organized and run by the Biozentrum at the University of Basel – brought together high school students for an intensive, hands-on introduction to molecular biology.
Over two weeks in early July, the 24 participants conducted experiments, attended lectures, and exchanged ideas with experienced Biozentrum scientists. Since its launch in 2019, the BSSA has combined practical lab work with theoretical learning. Under the guidance of Bachelor, Master, PhD students, and postdocs, the participants carried out key molecular biology techniques: isolating DNA, restriction digest, working with bacteria, and analyzing data.
Daily lab work
The aim is not simply to familiarize students with laboratory methods, but to show them that they can think like scientists and make discoveries of their own. “By working in the lab almost daily, we could gather a lot of practical experience,” says Diana Georgiev. Like many participants, Diana is preparing to enter higher education. “Two of my friends completed the program previously and were very happy with their experience, which is why I decided to apply this year.”
Course instructor Dominik Buser also emphasizes the scientific approach of the program: “The students carry out real experiments independently – from isolating to characterizing bacteriophages. They experience what it means to think and work like scientists.” Many of them discover or deepen their interest in pursuing studies in the life sciences.
Each day of the two-week program included interactive sessions with eleven researchers from the Biozentrum, who introduced current topics such as gene expression, genetic engineering, and RNA biology. As part of their projects, the students isolated and characterized bacteriophages – viruses that infect bacteria – from rhino stool samples provided by Zoo Basel.
In addition to classical microbiological experiments, the participants visualized phages under an electron microscope and analyzed their genome sequences. These sessions not only expanded the students’ scientific understanding but also offered insights into academic research careers. “The Summer Science Academy has broadened my horizons immensely – I realized that I now definitely want to study molecular biology,” says 16-year-old Simon Herrmann from Germany.
Youths from ten countries
As in previous years, the 2025 Academy brought together an international group, with participants from Switzerland, Germany, Japan, Greece, Turkey, India, the USA, Brazil, China, and Argentina. English served as the common language – in the lab and during social activities.
In the lab, too, participants supported each other, as Buser observed: “A genuine team spirit developed that extended beyond the lab. Many showed each other techniques or helped out when something in the experiment didn’t go as planned. That’s how new friendships were formed as well.”
Beyond science, the program fosters cultural exchange and builds lasting friendships. Excursions such as a visit to a chocolate factory or the “Zolli Basel” allowed students to bond outside the lab. “The program is a great investment in my future. Universities will see that I’ve already engaged with the subject matter,” says 17-year-old Evan Frie.
The Summer Science Academy prepares students for future careers in science and beyond. Many alumni go on to study biology or medicine, and some may return to the Biozentrum as interns. All leave with new skills, greater confidence – and a deeper appreciation for how science works.
Applications for the 2026 BSSA edition will open in early spring.
Contact: Communications, Livio Stöckli