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Team:Alberta/Project/Outreach
From 2009.igem.org
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REcoli Human Practices Component: High School OutreachOur Human Practices component consists of presentations and pamphlets for high school and junior high school students about synthetic biology, iGEM, and our project. We’re doing this outreach primarily for the high school students’ own interest and benefit. Synthetic biology is rapidly changing the biotechnology industry, and an understanding of synthetic biology would enrich a student’s consideration of career choices. Becoming excited about a potential career option can also provide motivation for academic success. Our outreach is also a service to the research community, as the more students who know about synthetic biology, the more who may pursue it as a career. A greater pool of human resources can increase the quantity and quality of research We believe that sharing one’s research with the community is an important responsibility, both to keep research accountable to the public and to open doors for the next generation to get involved. Even for those students who don’t pursue science, an exposure to what synthetic biology is allows them to make more informed, responsible choices as consumers and voters. Thus, through high school outreach, we’re setting a good example of good example of corporate social responsibility. Finally, we strive to learn how to better communicate synthetic biology to students. In order to evaluate the impact of our outreach, we collect feedback forms after presentations and have an online survey. |
PresentationsHeritage Youth Researcher Summer Program – Tues August 4thThis was a 15min presentation followed by 5min for questions. A survey was collected from the audience. The presentation was attended by 19 students who had just finished Grade 11 and were working in medical research lab for six weeks in the summer. Students were very interested in the applications for synthetic biology; we gave some examples of other iGEM projects. We mentioned the idea of bacteria producing asphalt so they could re-grow roads with cracks in them, and the students thought that was very cool. I would suggest for future presentations we spend more time on synthetic biology in general and give more examples of other synthetic biology research. For the powerpoint presentation, click here We've also posted the front and back sides of the pamphlets we gave out during the presentation.
Africa Centre Summer Camp – Thursday August 5thThis was a 1 hour presentation for students in Grade 6-9 at a summer camp for African children. Part I: Exploring the genetic basis of traits using PTC paper to test for a genetic difference in tasting ability. Part II: Isolating strawberry DNA using a simple extraction buffer and isopropanol. Part III: Building with DNA using a velcro model. Students were challenged to use the concept of sticky single stranded ends to build a plasmid out of velcro pieces. Part IV: Discussion of what synthetic biology is and what it can do. For a complete lesson plan, click here Students were very excited by the DNA extraction. One grouped perfectly solved the velcro problem in about 5min, and the other groups had similar ideas. They really liked squishing the agarose gel, though it was distracting from the discussion. They had a lot of questions about what’s possible with genetic engineering, and particularly if humans could be genetically engineered. Some examples we discussed were making organisms glow (GFP), human gene therapy, human cloning, and genetic muscle enhancement (myostatin). Some of them already knew the term genetic engineering, and most recognized DNA as being in bodily fluids and a type of ‘fingerprint’, but initially didn’t know much more.
Edmonton Public Libraries Science and Technology Week - October 17thWISEST SET Conference for Grade 12 girls - November 28th |
Survey Results
A brief survey was given after the HYRS presentation, and will be given after upcoming presentations. Complete results can be found here. Below is a summary of responses including representative quotes from students.
Had you ever heard of synthetic biology before our presentation?Yes: 22% No: 78% Do you think it’s useful for high school students to know about synthetic biology and/or iGEM? Why?Yes: 100% “so that they know the field exists, and to see if it sparks any interest in them” “because it opens up different career paths.” “I believe it is useful because it allows students to broaden their perspectives on science and to address ethical issues.” Does hearing about synthetic biology make you more interested in pursing a career in synthetic biology or another field of science and technology?Yes: 29% No: 18% Don’t know: 53% What was the most important thing you learned from our pamphlet/presentation? Did anything really surprise you?"That there is a program where undergrad students can do “real” science" “The fact that this field exists at all” “that there's a lot more to E. Coli than it being bacteria that makes you sick.“ How could synthetic biology and our project be more effectively communicated to high school students? Was anything really confusing?“Nothing was confusing, presentation at school at bio class” “The presentation was very well presented. I believe that synthetic bio should be a much larger part of what is taught in the classroom” “Explaining it in application terms, how it applies to the students in everyday life” “smaller words/more definitions”
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