Olive, 11 and her brother Will, 8 wanted to say a big thank you to their scientist heroes for all their hard work to improve people’s lives, including on COVID-19 research.
The result was 650 heartwarming letters written to scientists by students at Malvern Primary School in Victoria. The colourful letters, composed during Victoria’s first lockdown and homeschooling period earlier this year, are being sent to researchers at Hudson Institute and around Australia.
The project was the brainchild of Hudson Institute researcher and Olive and Will’s mum, Dr Sarah Meachem who heard about a similar project overseas.
“To solve big problems you need highly-skilled, very smart and passionate people – like the ones I work with. We wanted these scientists and researchers to feel appreciated, respected and thanked,” said Dr Meachem, from the Testis Development and Male Germ Cell Biology Research group.
“Now, more than ever, scientists are in full view of the world as we wait patiently for a cure for COVID-19, and the community look towards us for the answers.”
Dr Meachem said she hoped the letters lifted scientists’ spirits.
In his letter, Will wrote: “Dear scientists, I just want to thank you: whether you are working on the coronavirus or researching how to stop diseases in humans or in animals or just understanding the world, I thank you for trying to make this world a better place.”
Another student wrote: “Thank you all very, very much for your hard effort trying to make a cure of vaccine for the COVID-19. We all know that it is very hard and you must be very tired, but keep going, try your best and don’t give up.”
“Dear valiant scientists, we really appreciate the super hard work you put into finding and trying to make a vaccine to stop the COVID-19 rampage,” another letter said.
“I hope you are doing well on finding an antidote for COVID-19. We all don’t want to get this horrible COVID-19!” another student wrote.
