On Friday, 25 September 2026, more than 80 pupils had the chance to step into the world of scientific research during WiseNight, a science festival taking place in and around the Atomium in Brussels. The festival brings research closer to children through interactive activities, showing them that science often starts with something very simple: curiosity.
As part of the “Meet today’s Marie Curie” programme, we, Marie Van de Walle (UGent) and Mishka Beutels (VUB) introduced the pupils to the EU PAL-COPD project. In just 15 minutes, the children discovered what it means to provide care when breathing becomes difficult and got a glimpse into what life with COPD can be like.
The session started with the basics: What is COPD? And what does the disease mean for the everyday life of someone living with it? The pupils were quick to ask questions of their own. What does it feel like to have COPD? What are the difficult moments? And what challenges do people with COPD face in their daily lives?
From there, we introduced them to Jef, a fictional character created by our team, inspired by the many conversations and experiences we have encountered when working with people living with COPD. Through Jef’s story, the pupils discovered that COPD can affect much more than physical health. The impact can be felt across four different areas: physical well-being, emotions, social life and questions about meaning and life.
Although COPD cannot be cured, the pupils learned that there are many ways to support someone living with the disease. Sometimes, it starts simply by asking the right questions and taking the time to listen. Together, they thought about which questions they could ask Jef in each of the four areas, and how these questions could help uncover what really matters to him.
Through this exercise, we wanted to show that caring for someone is not only about knowing what a disease is. It is also about taking the time to understand the person behind it, listening to their experiences and finding out what matters to them.
And the questions did not stop when the session ended. Even as it was time to head home, the pupils kept asking questions and sharing their thoughts.
It was a memorable day for the pupils, and for us too. A day filled with questions, new perspectives and a reminder that meaningful research can begin with something as simple as being curious about another person’s story.
The article was written by Marie Van de Walle (UGent) and Mishka Beutels (VUB), who led the EU PAL-COPD session at WiseNight.
