We have been
extensively involved in education and engagement of the public in order to
change the outlook of genetic engineering, as it is commonly regarded as
‘scary’ or ‘against nature’. Instead, in order to introduce it as a technology
that we can use to our advantage, we developed an educational curriculum, for
both primary and secondary schools. We aim to make the ground principles
understandable and seizable for these children so they can grab the relevance
of genetic engineering for the future. Besides explaining genetic
engineering, we focused on the importance of the healthy balance between
malignant and benignant bacteria on both your body as in the environment.
We have partnered with three different Dutch foundations for science and education, namely: Science
linX, Scholieren Academie and Jonge Onderzoekers, in order to reach
kids and young adults. We helped Science linX to organize the "Night of
Arts and Science" as well as "Zpannend Zernike", two
science festivals aimed to raise the interest of young adults in science. With
Scholieren Academie we visited primary schools to familiarize kids and young
adults with the basics of genetic engineering, and in return they visited our
lab to observe genetic engineering work in real life. We also gave a workshop
on genetic engineering as part of the Jonge Onderzoekers for kids. The
following sections of this page will outline in more detail the work done with
the previously mentioned organizations and how we used the opportunity of IGEM
to educate future potential scientists.
Overall
teaching program for primary
schools
We created a
curriculum for children to familiarize children with bacteria and genetically
engineering. Our guest lecture was subdivided in two main topics:
- Bacteria and
their properties: We emphasized the relevance of the healthy balance of
different bacteria in nature. By explaining the advantages and disadvantages of
bacteria, we aimed to get children familiar with the world of microbes,
especially on the human body. Every kid received its own LB agar plate and we
divided each class in three groups. One group puts the tip of the nose on the
Agar plate, the second group puts the plate on its hair and the last group puts
its finger on the plate. We grew the bacteria, after which the kids could see
their own bacteria when they visited our lab in return.
In collaboration
with MeMBrane, an institute involved in improving membrane properties for human
purposes, we got children acquainted with many kinds of microbes. MeMBRane has
given us a game called ‘Microstrike!’ which explains in a playful matter the
different properties and different species of microbes as shown in the image. We have played the game
during both Zpannend Zernike as well as during the lecture arranged by de Jonge
Onderzoekers.
- Genetic
engineering. The second part of the guest lecture is more focused on the basic
principles of genetically engineering. By summarizing some common examples of
genetically modification in real life, we emphasize the advantage of this
technology. Additionally, via simple images, we aim to elucidate the abstract
subject. Children find it hard to grasp new information when it is not visible.
In order to make genetic engineering more seizable, our self-made curriculum
consists of an understandable visualization of the protocol via simple images.
By using the words ‘cutting and glueing DNA’, younger children are able to link
their own experiences to something completely new, leading to a better
understanding. We visualized DNA with the help of XXL Lego bricks. Every brick
represents a specific gene which stands for a specific property. Additionally,
every property has a specific spot on the human body. Using these principles,
we created a game similar to the game ‘mastermind’. The kids have to crack the
code otherwise the properties are not expressed correctly. Thanks to Theo, a
member of ScienceLinx, we received a human-shaped cardboard called Vera: we
could add and remove human properties, such as, blue eyes, brown hair, a big
nose, etc. For the visualization, we have chosen to use a human body, instead
of bacteria, because of the less abstract and less unknown comparison children
have to make in order to understand the principle. According to the order of
the bricks the children had to arrange (in other words, the order of the genes)
the human being will eventually have all different properties on the right
spot. Inserting genes of interest is possible, only if the code represents the
correct order.
ScienceLinX
The main purpose of Science LinX is to
introduce science and technology to primary and secondary school students in
order to interest them for a scientific career at the Rijksuniversiteit
Groningen. Science LinX is part of the Undergraduate School of Science and
Engineering (Faculty of Science & Engineering, RUG) and coordinates
programs to inform and involve pupils, non-profit organizations and the general
public in research conducted by the faculty.
In order to engage
the university with the general public, including pupils and the society,
SciencelinX coordinates many festivities and events to involve pupils into the
scientific world. By offering scientists a platform Science LinX wants to increase interest in science and
technology at
the University of Groningen. With a modern approach tailored to the target
group, the department facilitates a continuous learning path that links
science, education, work and citizenship.
Nacht van kunst en wetenschap
During the night of art and science, an annual event in Groningen, we
offered our help to ScienceLinX. ScienceLinX arranged an exciting Escape Room
and we helped out. Additionally, we brought our poster and talked with several
people about our project while they were waiting in line.
Zpannend Zernike
At the 6th of october Zpannend Zernike took place in Groningen. Zpannend
Zernike is an educational festivity at Groningen University to interest little
children for science.
As part of ScienceLinx we had our own stand. A lot of children visited
our stand to play our ‘mastermind’-like game and to know more about bacteria.
Or maybe because it was because of the candy. We used different kinds of candy
to counterfeit DNA. We used Tum Tum’s to visualize the nucleotides of DNA
thereby imitating the CG and AT hydrogen bounding. Long strands of marshmallow
represented the backbone of DNA. It was extremely busy all day long!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQaz5PTUuJA&feature=youtu.be
Discovery Truck
The University of
Groningen has its own 'Discovery Truck': a fully equipped laboratory on wheels
which can also be used as a lecture room. The Faculty of Mathematics &
Natural Sciences uses the truck to tour around schools in the Netherlands and
show the students what science is about through experiments and lectures. The
Discovery Truck visits predominantly highschools and aims to create room for
young adults to explore their main interest
Because of the
collaboration between iGEM and ScienceLinX, we created a curriculum for
predominantly secondary school students.
The program
‘Discovery Truck’ provides short lessons for secondary schools involving all
subjects of biology and science. Succeeding the allround opinion ‘learning by
doing’, we facilitate an interactive study program, providing insight to
teenagers in synthetic biology. We enumerate several examples of genetic
engineering in daily life applications. To make the students understand the
principles of genetic biology, we challenge them to bring up a self made
protocol which states how they think it might be possible to change DNA to
human’s own advantage. Because highschool students have learned the basic
biological knowledge, the basic principles as DNA and cloning, do not
necessarily have to be explained again. This gives space and time to elucidate
the basics of genetic engineering in depth. At the end of the lesson we
initiate a debate thereby discussing whether the students are against
genetically engineering or not. The whole lesson is built on the principle that
students must have enough space and opportunity to formulate their own opinion
about genetically engineering.
Scholierenacademie
Scholierenacademie is an institute connecting
both highschool and primary school students with the University of Groningen.
The main goal is to make young children curious about science. By offering a
wide spectrum of activities, workshops and field trips, Scholierenacademie aims
to get kids interested in the scientific world. By connecting university and
schools, Scholierenacademie provides opportunity to the university to learn
from the teacher’s insights and vice versa
As part of the RUG, Scholierenacademie facilitates scientific activities for schools including
varied excursions, guest lectures and workshops. This year, our iGEM team
hosted a guest lecture for Scholierenacademie. Schools were able to book our
program after which we first visited the schools, spread around the province of
Groningen. We arranged five guest lectures as discussed above. Before we
started teaching, we handed in our program, powerpoint and ideas, after which
we received critical but definitely useful feedback. We used this feedback to
improve our educational program, leading to an effective and considered
curriculum. In turn, the children visited our lab at the Zernike Campus. First,
the children analyzed their own bacteria which have been growing since we
visited them at their schools. The analysis was based on what children saw on
their plates with their own grown bacteria. In order to do something similar as
in common microbiology, we have made assignment-sheets where children had to
fill in precisely what they saw on their plates, such as the shape of the
colonies, the shape of the edges of colonies, thickness, colour, and so on. Up
next, children were able to paint with ‘genetically modified bacteria’, without
using bacteria. Instead, we used our own bioprint technique. Our bioink is made
of sodium-alginate. When contacted with calcium, the alginate hardens, which is
an ideal trick to use in children involved circumstances. We coloured the
sodium alginate and afterwards, all the kids have made their own beautiful
‘bacteria’ painting to bring home.
Jonge onderzoekers
Last but not least we
have been involved in the afterschool programme, the Young Researchers. The
programme provides opportunity for little kids, from 6 to 18 years, to explore
their own interests in scientific subjects. The activities
are all set up by well educated volunteers which have also a big interest for
science. Technology, chemistry, physics, biology; different parts of science
are highlighted in workshops by doing for example experiments and building
robots thereby gaining knowledge.
De jonge Onderzoekers gives work space to
children who want to know more about technology and science. The afterschool
program provides opportunity for kids develop their talents and biggest
interests. By stimulating creativity, children are triggered to explore different
aspects of science. At october 18 we arranged a guest workshop for eleven
children. During the first hour, we explained our own project after which we
clarified the basic principles of genetic modification. Surprisingly, those
kids already knew a lot about this relatively new technology. After the general
presentation, we have played our ‘mastermind’ game multiple times and
additionally, we played the game which was given to us by the MeMBrane project
to emphasize the importance of several microbes.
