VALIDATE for Schools
VALIDATE provides school students around the world with an exciting opportunity to engage with leading scientists from around the world who work in vaccine research.
About the School Talks
VALIDATE is an international network of over 1000 researchers across 80 countries, who are working to develop vaccines against diseases including tuberculosis, leishmaniasis, melioidosis, and leprosy. In the VALIDATE for Schools talks, our world-leading researchers discuss their science careers and their fascinating research with young people, to encourage students to find out more about the many interesting careers available in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths and Medicine).
The talks can be either in-person events, or online via MS Teams (with the Q&A taking place using the chat function for the latter).
Who are they for?
The talks are suitable for most students but will be most relevant for 13-18 years olds, and of particular interest to those interested in pursuing a career in any STEMM field or biomedical research.
If you would be interested in hosting, or running, a VALIDATE for Schools event, get in touch with the VALIDATE team at VALIDATE@ndm.ox.ac.uk or using the form at the bottom of this page.
Since 2020, VALIDATE for Schools has given hundreds of school students the opportunity to meet vaccine researchers, learn about infectious diseases and vaccines, and discover the many different career paths available in science. Events have taken place online and in person, with activities designed to make vaccine research accessible, engaging and relevant to young people.
VALIDATE for Schools #6: 15–16 July 2026, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
VALIDATE held its first two-day VALIDATE for Schools event at the Biomedical Research Institute (BMRI), Stellenbosch University, bringing school learners into a working research environment to explore tuberculosis, vaccines and careers in science.
VALIDATE members Suraj Bhattarai, Liezel Smith, Zimvo Obasa, Happy Tshivhula, Bih Chendi, Alma Truyts and Robert Krause helped deliver a programme combining expert talks, research case studies, hands-on laboratory activities and science communication training. Learners also worked in groups to develop and present their own science communication projects, putting into practice what they had learned over the two days.
VALIDATE for Schools #5: 1 July 2026, Oundle School, UK
VALIDATE returned to Oundle School for a second in-person VALIDATE for Schools event, working with 30 students from two local schools.
VALIDATE members Hua Wang, Camila Freitas, Beatrice Nassanga Francis and Erin McMaster introduced students to tuberculosis, vaccine research and science communication. Students then worked in groups to create posters explaining complex scientific ideas to wider audiences, developing their understanding of vaccine science while building their communication and teamwork skills.
VALIDATE for Schools #4: 2 July 2025, Oundle School, UK
VALIDATE delivered its first in-person VALIDATE for Schools workshop at Oundle School, bringing together students from local state schools to explore vaccine science and neglected tropical diseases.
Students were introduced to leishmaniasis through a video briefing from VALIDATE Fellow Daniela Pagliara Lage before working in teams to design posters explaining the disease. VALIDATE members Hua Wang, Beatrice Nassanga Francis, Erin McMaster and Mohamed Osman supported the groups as they developed their ideas. The workshop encouraged students to think critically and creatively about global health challenges and how complex scientific topics can be communicated effectively.
The event also marked the beginning of a new programme of in-person VALIDATE for Schools activities, supported by resources designed to help researchers deliver similar sessions in their own communities.
VALIDATE for Schools #3: 11 May 2021, online
As part of our BCG100 programme, Prof Michele Miller and Dr Wynand Goosen from Stellenbosch University, South Africa, spoke to school students in the UK and Pakistan about “Pathways to Becoming Wildlife Researchers”.
They shared the very different routes they had taken into science and discussed how their research contributes to understanding the connections between animal health, human health and the environment.
The talk is open access and can be watched on YouTube or via the link in the ‘Watch Now’ section below.
VALIDATE for Schools #2: May 2021, online
VALIDATE Fellow Dr Jomien Mouton from Stellenbosch University, South Africa, joined school students online to talk about her research, her career in science and her journey to becoming a tuberculosis researcher.
The session gave students an opportunity to learn more about life as a scientist and the different routes into a career in biomedical research.
VALIDATE for Schools #1: 9 December 2020, online
Our first VALIDATE for Schools event brought vaccine research directly into classrooms across the UK. VALIDATE Director Prof Helen McShane and VALIDATE Fellow Dr Rachel Tanner, both from the University of Oxford, spoke to more than 250 students from 11 schools about their careers, their research and the science behind developing vaccines against tuberculosis.
The talk is open access and can be watched on YouTube or via the link in the ‘Watch Now’ section below.
Watch Now!
VALIDATE Members Prof Helen McShane and Dr Rachel Tanner sat down with hundreds of school children across the UK to talk about their science careers and vaccine research. Schools included Chipping Campden School, Harris Academy Greenwich, Hautlieu School, Maria Fidelis Catholic School, Moreton Hall School, Ormiston Rivers Academy, Pontypridd High School, Hawthorn High School, Blessed Hugh Faringdon, Copthall School, and Wheatley Park School.
The Speakers
Prof Helen McShane is the VALIDATE Network Director; Director of the Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre; Professor of Vaccinology at Oxford University; Deputy Head (Translation and Personnel), Medical Sciences Division; and an Honorary Consultant Physician in infectious diseases. Since 2001, Helen has led a TB vaccine research group at the University of Oxford. She collaborates with several research groups across Africa in TB vaccine clinical trials.
Dr Rachel Tanner is a member of VALIDATE's Network Management Board and a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Jenner Institute, University of Oxford. Rachel is also a VALIDATE Fellow and a Lecturer in HumanSciences. Rachel's research focuses on the antibody response to TB vaccination and she has an interest in finding ways to reduce the use of animals in TB vaccine testing. She has also been helping recently with the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine trials.
Pathways to becoming wildlife researchers
Event details:
Speakers: Dr Wynand Johan Goosen & Prof Michele A Miller
Date: 11 May 2021
Time: 10am GMT/11am SAST
Description: Michele and Wynand discussed the very different paths each took to follow their passion and become wildlife researchers. Students heard stories on how different people followed their professional dreams to become scientists that contribute to understanding the links between animals, humans and environmental health.
The Speakers:
“Prof Michele A Miller studied immunology and received her Masters and PhD before going to veterinary school. With her interest in wildlife (despite growing up in the US), she was able to do additional training at San Diego Zoo, then went on to work at several zoos in the U.S. (Los Angeles Zoo, Busch Gardens, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Palm Beach Zoo). Her passion for African wildlife led her to develop research projects in South Africa and in 2013 became a Research Chair in Animal Tuberculosis at Stellenbosch University. Currently, she is based full-time in Kruger National Park. She uses her training in research and veterinary medicine to design studies that will improve the health and our understanding of wildlife.
Dr Wynand Goosen grew up in a small town called Grahamstown in South Africa. Surrounded by various rural communities, livestock, and wildlife parks he was exposed to various disease management strategies due to the frequent interactions between communal livestock, wildlife, and humans. This inspired him to explore why such measures are necessary. During his quest for answers, he approached well-known international researchers who work with diseases that can jump between animals and humans which cause sickness and even death. This led to his studies in Molecular Biology and later receiving his PhD, before pursuing a career solely focused on finding answers and better understanding such strange diseases. He now works with Prof Michele Miller at Stellenbosch University’s Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics in Cape Town. He uses his skills as a Molecular scientist to complement Michele's attributes to help design studies that will improve the health of humans and animals.
Wynand with a sedated elephant
A group of future vets working on a warthog
Working with captured and sedated Lions
The Animal TB Team with a sedated elephant
