May 23, 2005 – The RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology (CDB) held its third annual Open House event on May 21, welcoming more than 1,400 visitors to the Center for a day of scientific exhibits, talks and demonstrations.

The event offered simple and engaging explanations of topics in development, regeneration and regenerative medicine, from mouse biology to neurogenesis. All exhibits and demonstrations were staffed by scientists who explained their work and laboratory techniques to visitors of all ages and walks of life.

Visitors explore one of the labs opened to the public

In the day’s open lectures, Dr. Yoshiko Takahashi of the Laboratory for Body Patterning gave a talk on how the ways in which cells communicate and work together in a kind of society, while Dr. Yoshiki Sasai of the Laboratory for Organogenesis and Neurogenesis his lab’s work in the differentiation of neural cells from stem cells in culture.

A number of scientific demonstrations allowed non-scientists to get firsthand experience with basic scientific principles and research equipment, including a simple experiment letting people visualize their own cells under a microscope, as well as demonstrations of the microscopic living world that surrounds us, and a simulation of how to use a real micromanipulator.

Among the highlights of the event was a treasure hunt designed with kids in mind. Visitors to the CDB received maps of the exhibits located throughout the building. By going to each exhibit location, visitors were able to collect a set of original CDB game cards, each with a cartoon and description of an organism, cell, gene or research position involved in the study of developmental biology.

One of 30 game cards distributed at the 2005 CDB Open House

The neighboring Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation and the Translational Research Informatics Center also opened their doors to the public on the same day, giving local residents to enjoy a full day of the wonders of development, regeneration and regenerative medicine.