SCIence outreach: The example of BIObanks in EUrope

Biobanking includes collecting, processing, storing, retrieving, and managing biological samples of high quality, linked to relevant personal data for research purposes, in a standardized and legally and ethically compliant manner. Biobanking research relies heavily on public trust and a sense of solidarity. Individuals are asked to provide biological samples and personal data without knowing the specific research purposes they will serve, making transparency and public engagement essential. To ensure the sustainability and growth of biobanking, it is vital to strengthen communication between researchers and the broader society. SCIBIOEU was initiated to address the lack of public awareness and understanding around biobanking and to foster trust through clear, accessible, and inclusive educational efforts. One of SCIBIOEU’s main goals was to identify communication gaps and develop strategies to bridge them by creating engaging training materials tailored to diverse audiences. Through an open, participatory approach, the project aimed to promote civic involvement and make biobanking knowledge accessible to those with little or no prior exposure, thereby supporting informed participation and societal inclusion.

SCIBIOEU aimed to achieve two main objectives, each targeting a key audience: young scientists and the general public, respectively. For students of health sciences interested in biobanking and early-career researchers, the goal was to enhance their ability to communicate biobanking concepts clearly and effectively. This was supported through the development of an interactive e-course designed to improve their scientific communication skills, provide accurate knowledge about biobanking, and promote relevant outreach practices. The SCIBIOEU handbook for science outreach, also helps towards that regard. For the general public, the objective was to raise awareness and understanding of biobanking through a Serious Game, an engaging educational tool that presents core concepts in an accessible way and helps address scientific misconceptions. Additionally, the Serious Game serves as a resource for higher education institutions, complementing existing curricula and supporting science outreach by enabling students and researchers to integrate it into teaching and learning contexts. Furthermore, these tools aim to foster greater understanding and trust in biobanking, ultimately supporting active participation.

All SCIBIOEU activities were carried out with the goal of developing high-quality final deliverables. The project began with an in-depth literature review and analysis of existing courses and serious games related to biobanking, alongside the adaptation of relevant course materials from partner institutions. Focus groups were conducted to explore content needs and preferred formats for both the e-course and the serious game. Each partner contributed to the development of the lessons of the e-course based on their area of expertise, while the serious game script was created collaboratively. A dedicated online platform was built to host both tools. The e-course underwent a pilot phase, supported by a Train-the-Trainers event, where assistants of the pilot from all partners were trained. Feedback from the pilot and additional focus groups helped refine both the course and the game. These efforts culminated in the creation of the SCIBIOEU Handbook for science outreach. Additionally, an AI assistant (BiobankGPT) was developed to support users. Regular transnational meetings and wide-reaching dissemination, including Multiplier Events, ensured project cohesion and visibility.

SCIBIOEU offers three main outputs. The first one is the “SCIBIOEU e-course on Biobanking”, which is available through an online platform. The e-course contains 8 lessons, ranging from an introduction to biobanks and biobanking, up to performing communication about biobanks, including lessons dealing with Ethical Legal and Social issues in biobanking, the concept of informed consent, samples and data processing, storage and access to data and samples for research purposes. All lessons are explained in an easy-to-understand way while also being scientifically state-of-the-art, in order to best equip the target group to perform science outreach about biobanks effectively on their own. The second main output is the SCIBIOEU serious game “Biobank Adventures”, aiming to raise awareness for biobanking of the general public. The serious game is freely available and playable online using a PC, with the format of a 3-D adventure game. The last main output is the SCIBIOEU Handbook for Science Outreach, a digital document that guides the readers on how to incorporate the SCIBIOEU e-course and Serious Game on their own courses and communicates the best practices for science outreach and for implementing similar EU-funded projects.