A high school student, Magdaléna Treterová, has shown a remarkable aptitude for scientific research and has advanced to the regional round (South Moravian Region) of the SOČ competition.

Out of 18 scientific disciplines, she chose to focus on healthcare research, demonstrating her commitment to advancing knowledge in this critical area. Her thesis focuses on the innovative 3D printing of bioactive calcium phosphate scaffolds, demonstrating both her technical skills and deep understanding of materials science. Magdaléna's experiments, carried out at CEITEC BUT under the supervision of Claudia Paredes and Lucie Pejchalová, underline her collaborative spirit and ability to thrive under expert mentorship. It is worth noting that the SOČ competition is supported by the JCMM (South Moravian Centre for International Mobility), underlining the importance of promoting young talent in scientific research. In addition, the GlaCerHub project provides invaluable support for such efforts in the form of shared knowledge, highlighting the importance of community-led efforts to foster the next generation of scientific innovators and their collaboration.

Magdaléna: Doing my SOČ at CEITEC BUT gave me so many experiences and new impulses. I was able to work in modern laboratories and try out so many interesting techniques. Most of the techniques were explained in English and I had to ask something in English that I had never heard of before. So my English is better than before. I had some experience of working in a lab from my high school, but at CEITEC I was able to work on something that really interested me. Everyone was so kind and gave me so many comments on my work. I am so grateful that I was able to do my SOČ at CEITEC BUT.

Lucie concludes that teaching young students is very rewarding because of the impact it can have on individual students. Young students often bring fresh perspectives and curiosity to the learning process, which makes the teacher's efforts worthwhile. However, it can also be very challenging at times, as students tend to have different learning needs and limited time. The enthusiasm and commitment of the students always outweighs any shortcomings.

Magdaléna is now preparing for the regional round. She is filming a video of her presentation and creating a new short presentation to summarise her work.

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