Difference between revisions of "Team:Warwick/Outreach"

Revision as of 14:17, 25 August 2015

Warwick iGEM 2015

Outreach

Our Outreach Program

Outreach is an incredibly important part of the iGEM competition as it allows younger pupils to get involved with science and encourages older students to join science societies and maybe even participate in iGEM!

As part of our project we have visited multiple schools throughout the West Midlands, with plans to visit schools across the country, from Manchester to Tottenham. We’ve conducted talks on the methods and ethics of genetic engineering and run lab experiments with lower school students. Furthermore we have had a selection of interns come in to witness the glory of biolabs and experience pipetting DNA a million times an hour for themselves.

A particular favourite trip of ours was our visit to Hartshill school in Coventry where we gave a presentation on genetic engineering and its implications in society to a class of year 8 children. The questions asked by the students displayed an amusing innocence towards genetic engineering but also showed the ignorance that some of society have towards the challenges and risks of what we do. However their genuine interest and surprisingly logical questions blew us away. Part of our presentation showed pictures of mice genetically modified to express GFP, a protein from jellyfish that makes them glow green. One little boy asked “does that mean if you touch them you’ll be stung?”; naturally it doesn’t, but it’s still an interesting thought that they understood the nature of combining traits amongst different species. And of course many questions about Jurassic park were fielded too. With the same class, we then ran through a DNA extraction experiment using strawberries. Seeing the joy of experimentation on their faces reminded us of ourselves when we were younger and left us feeling hopeful for the future of science.

AUTHOR: Jane Sanders

Jane is a professional photographer working for SLC. Temporibus autem quibusdam et aut officiis debitis aut rerum necessitatibus saepe eveniet ut et voluptates repudiandae sint et molestiae non recusandae. Itaque earum rerum. Browse more articles by this author.

1 Comment

Sam - October 26, 2013 at 9:39 am

But she cuddled in bed with one knee up to her neck in cute boyish fashion, laughing softly at the remembrance of another time when she had popped a cigarette stump into the eye of a London bobby from the top of a bus. Temporibus autem quibusdam.

INTERNS COMMENTS

"The Warwick team has provided me a valuable insight into the world of synthetic biology" - Jamie Dryden

"They reinvigorated my love of science, and passion for learning. Would recommend" - Olivia Lea

"A useful and enjoyable experience in the world of biology" - Somebody

VISITED PLACES

Blue Coats, Coventry Hartshill School, Nuneaton Whitley Academy RadioPlus Harris Church of England Academy Birmingham Museum Thinktank Classic Elegant Graphics

RECENT EVENTS

7 Oct 2013

Many pieces were proposed, but none seemed suitable, because each one wished to play a good and suitable part ...

6 Sept 2013

It was ready for production, when through accident we were disappointed about securing the private theatre on ...

4 Aug 2013

The over-kind praise which it won encouraged me to have the play printed. I decided, as I could see no other prospects...

@@ Line 149: / Line 149: @@
 			<a href="http://www.hartshill.warwickshire.sch.uk/" class="tags">Hartshill School, Nuneaton</a>
 			<a href="http://www.whitleyacademy.com/" class="tags">Whitley Academy</a>
-			<a href="http://www.harris-school.co.uk/" class="tags">Harris Church of England Academy</a>
 			<a href="http://www.radioplus.org.uk/" class="tags">RadioPlus</a>
+                        <a href="http://www.harris-school.co.uk/" class="tags">Harris Church of England Academy</a>
 			<a href="http://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/thinktank" class="tags">Birmingham Museum Thinktank</a>
 			<a href="#" class="tags">Classic</a>