Loading...

Education

A younger audience

    In addition to our project, we have through different means tried to make DNA and synthetic biology more accessible for children. Making them our main target group. This includes visiting elementary schools, high schools and collaborating with a science center. By meeting children where they are in their understanding, we aspired to make synthetic biology concepts more relatable and accessible, encouraging their curiosity and interest in the field.

Molekylverkstan,The molecular workshop

    During the last week of July, we had a collaboration with a science center called Molekylverkstan,The molecular workshop. The science center aims to spark children´s and young people´s curiosity and interest in science. Especially in the field of chemistry, where their expertise lies. They do so by both creating awareness of the products that chemical companies produce and the importance of chemistry. Learning through practice is widely recognized as a powerful method for a deeper understanding of a subject. The science center offers families and their children the chance to engage in a more hands-on approach to science. Through their weekly workshops, which include both guided experiments led by them and self-guided experiments. When reaching out to the science center, we presented the idea of us hosting a workshop focused on the topics of DNA, and genetic engineering. Since this was outside of their expertise, they saw this as a perfect opportunity for them to help spread awareness of a field that is rapidly growing.
    Andréa preparing for the presentation.
    Figure 1: Andréa preparing for the presentation.
    The workshop was called“The DNA Mystery”, during which we prepared both a theoretical introduction and two different experiments. Since the primary audience consisted mainly of families with children aged 5-10 years, we chose to keep the theoretical introduction short and the main focus landed on the experiments. Additionally, given the wide age range of the children and their varied knowledge on the subject we chose to work with a metaphor that most children could relate to. When introducing them to the concept of cells and DNA, we used the metaphor of Lego and an instruction manual. This helped them understand that we are composed of cells, just like Lego is used to build different figures. Also, just like different Lego pieces could look different, our cells differ in both appearance and traits. This is all thanks to DNA, which can be seen as the instruction manual that every one of them carries. When introducing them to genetic engineering, we simplified the explanation by comparing it to the use of special glue and scissors. Tools, on a microscopic level, help us cut and attach different segments of the DNA. Allowing us to introduce new characteristics to the cell's instruction manual.

    Liam guiding the DNA extraction experiment. Liam guiding the DNA extraction experiment.
    Figure 3 & 4: Liam guiding the DNA extraction experiment.

    The experiments were designed to further explore what was mentioned in the introduction. One of the experiments involved the extraction of strawberry DNA, showing that fruits also have cells with DNA. The other experiment aimed to simulate the concept of transforming bacteria, where we introduce new traits to the cells. Both the presentation and the experiments lasted 30 minutes, during which we tried to actively engage the children as much as possible. The experiments were guided by us, with one of us responsible for a group of up to 10 children. We gathered them around a laboratory bench and explained the different steps, as well as the reason behind them, how they affected the cells, and so on. To keep the children engaged in what was happening, we tried to involve them as much as possible during the different steps and ask them questions about what they thought would happen.

    The script for and an overview of the presentaion and experiments can be found here: Demo Laborations - DNA/Gentechnology

Middle school

    In addition to our project, we have through different means tried to make DNA and synthetic biology more accessible for children. Making them our main target group. This includes visiting elementary schools, high schools and collaborating with a science center. By meeting children where they are in their understanding, we aspired to make synthetic biology concepts more relatable and accessible, encouraging their curiosity and interest in the field. The presentation and the equipment used during the experiment.
    Figure 5: The presentation and the equipment used during the experiment.

High School

    In addition to our project, we have through different means tried to make DNA and synthetic biology more accessible for children. Making them our main target group. This includes visiting elementary schools, high schools and collaborating with a science center. By meeting children where they are in their understanding, we aspired to make synthetic biology concepts more relatable and accessible, encouraging their curiosity and interest in the field. Our visit at the Hjalmar Strömerskolan, a high school.
    Figure 6: Our visit at the Hjalmar Strömerskolan, a high school.