Celebration of Research Event a Success
If you were invited to an event promising "Faster, Higher, Stronger," you'd be there, right? So were more than 230 eighth through 12th grade students from more than 40 schools across southern Minnesota for the 17th biennial Celebration of Research, a daylong conference for students interested in learning about careers in science.
“Mayo Clinic is deeply committed to preparing the next generation of physicians and scientists,” says event Co-Chair, Jim Maher, III, Ph.D., Dean of Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. “This is a wonderful event to interact with students at a time when they are exploring different career options, before they head to college, and introduce them to the role that research plays in transforming the practice of medicine.”
To start the day, Michael Joyner, M.D., Director of the Human and Integrative Physiology Laboratory, presented the keynote address, "Faster, Higher, Stronger: Science and Human Performance." Dr. Joyner highlighted the science behind athletic feats, including examples from the 2016 Rio Olympics.
In addition, State Senator Carla Nelson provided brief introductory remarks to kick off the event and welcome the students and their teachers.
Following the opening session, the students took part in hands-on tours of research laboratories. Nearly 30 laboratories across Mayo Clinic, 3 within the Department of Laboratory Pathology, opened their doors to students to host interactive demonstrations and experiments. DLMP consultants Robin Patel, M.D.; Ravinder Singh, Ph.D.; and David I. Smith, Ph.D., provided tours through their laboratories at the event.
Take a peek at some of the fun:


