Youths delve into science exploration of the kidneys through STEM

The National STEM Championship (NSTEMC), which incorporates the elements of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, provides a platform for secondary three students to showcase and hone their knowledge and problem-solving skills via on-site challenges hosted by various organisations. Organised by the Science Centre Singapore and supported by the Ministry of Health, the competition aims to ignite and inspire the wonders of science to the youth and future generations of scientists and engineers. NKF was privileged to be one of the hosts for a group of four Semi-Finalists in the 2023 challenge.

The session started off at NKF’s Kidney Discovery Centre, where the students were encouraged to become ambassadors of change for a healthier Singapore. They then learnt about the functions of the kidneys, the role of the nephrons in filtration and the broader implications when these vital organs are damaged.

Activities included building a basic kidney filtration model that mimics the essential functions and structure of the kidneys and demonstrating an understanding of how chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension can adversely damage the kidneys.

NKF hosted four of the sixteen Semi-Finalists, namely students from Anglo Chinese School (Independent), Chung Cheng High School, DPS International School and Victoria School, and introduced them to the fascinating realm of STEM and the KIDNEYS as they were exposed to the sciences behind the kidneys and our health choices. Through exploring the biological structure and vital functions of the kidneys, the challenge tested the students’ knowledge of how waste products and excess water are excreted from our blood and removed as urine.

The challenge also prompted the students to consider the importance of our health and choices in our human physiology. They shared that apart from the learnings on the role of STEM in health sciences, the challenge also caused them to consider the role that science and technology plays in public health. For their health and future wellbeing, they will be more proactive about their health and encourage others to do the same.

Kidney disease can happen due to conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and inflammation, or even genetic factors. These can damage the kidney cells and cause them to die, and the damage is irreversible. These cells do not regenerate and so the remaining kidney cells will have to work extra hard to keep the organ going. Over time, it becomes harder and harder for the kidney to filter the blood and toxins begin to accumulate.

“... essentially the kidney is a membrane that gets rid of waste products and water from the body. So all the junk that we eat, the kidney will get rid of it for our bodies. And it’s working there all the time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and it never rests.”

Assoc Prof Tan Chieh Suai, Head and Senior Consultant, Department of Renal Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, who says our kidneys work very hard.

Did you know?

Approximately 180 litres of blood passes through your kidneys each day. Inside each kidney, there are about one million filtering units call the nephrons. The nephrons filter waste products and excess water in your blood, reabsorb essential nutrients and water, and remove the waste products through urine formation.