DxHub
Diagnosing pathogens in water: young scientists in action
Oeiras Experimenta in numbers
1
ITQB NOVA lab
1
school
1
company 4
mentor researchers 12
students from 7 to 12 grades
10
professorsScientific Goals
The main goal of DxHub AquaDetect is to empower young citizens to collect, analyze, and understand data on the presence of pathogens in water using portable point-of-care diagnostic devices, while also helping to validate these technologies and raise awareness about public and environmental health.
Partners
The project is led by ITQB NOVA’s Innovation Office as part of the DxHub project, in close collaboration with:
- STAB VIDA;
- IHMT NOVA;
- INIAV;
- InovLabs;
- SIMAS;
- Municipality of Oeiras.
Scientists Results and Impact
The theoretical component is integrated into the school’s Citizenship and Development Project, and specialized mentoring promotes inquiry-based learning, reinforcing scientific skills and active citizenship.
Students acquired practical skills in diagnosing infectious diseases by applying real laboratory methods outside the formal setting, while interacting directly with researchers and state-of-the-art equipment. The impact of DxHub AquaDetect extends to the school community and the local area, promoting environmental awareness, public health, and civic engagement among young people aged 12 to 18, in line with the “One Health” strategy.
The next phase will continue activities in schools and launch the 1st Youth Citizens’ Assembly in Oeiras, along with an Ideas Contest: “Young ‘One Health’ Innovators — Our School, Our Community.” Participating youth will propose citizen science projects on rapid diagnosis, environmental health, microorganism monitoring, disease prevention, and other solutions applicable to the community. With guidance from researchers and partners, the ideas will be evaluated by a panel of young people during the Assembly, promoting active participation, creativity, and a sense of civic responsibility.
Citizen Scientists
The main participants are citizen scientists—7th- and 12th-grade students from Clube Ciência Viva at Escola Secundária Marquês do Pombal in Oeiras—supported by STAB VIDA and their teachers.
These students actively participate in:
- Collecting water samples in school and community settings;
- Conducting tests using STAB VIDA’s Doctor Vida device, applying real rapid diagnostic techniques;
- Visiting SIMAS to understand water treatment and monitoring processes;
- Analyzing and interpreting data, culminating in the presentation of results to the school community;
- Producing reports with recommendations for the Municipality of Oeiras.
Pedro Pedrosa, former coordinator of the DxHub project and the ITQB NOVA Innovation Office
The DxHub AquaDetect, part of the European DxHub project, allows us to connect science to the real world in an innovative way while also involving the business sector: students take center stage, learning to conduct research, interpret data, and propose concrete solutions for their community.
