For schools
CRC-CID Teachers In Research Labs Workshop
The CRC-CID Education and Training Committee ran its first workshop for Secondary School Science teachers in the Department of Medicine in April 2008 as part of its ‘knowledge transfer to the community’ programme.
The workshop involved groups of teachers mentored by scientists allowing involvement in ‘real research’ in action. Teachers were able to experience the applications of Real-time PCR & microarrays, measuring the concentration of DNA in samples, running both DNA and protein gels, transfections, fluorescence microscopy and stem cell cultures.
The workshop was a great success, the experience of benefit to both the teachers and the scientists. Following its success another workshop took place in May. Although the numbers were fewer, this too was a successful event.
Testimonials from Teachers
“(I) was very impressed with yesterday - there was a lot of very careful and detailed preparation and it was good to have the benefit of small groups and the opportunity for terrific interaction with the presenters. Please pass on my thanks to them all”
“Brilliant program. One of the best I’ve been to. Everyone in the program explained the tools, techniques and purposes extremely clearly and succinctly.”
“I found the PD extremely valuable and will share the workshop experience with my 3 biology colleagues”
2007 Annual CRCA Conference
At the CRCA Conference in Perth, CRCs were asked to contribute to a CRC EXPO, where each CRC presented its research to the community, and in particular to local school children.
The key messages we attempted to deliver were:
Why smoking is not cool/ the worst habit you could pick up
What can you tell your grandparents about artificial hips and knees?
How new drugs are developed.
As it happened, we were overwhelmed by the number of school children who visited, ranging in age from 8 -18 (Yr 3 to Yr 12), usually 10 to 20 at once, so we simplified the key messages to information about lungs and artificial joints. We had lots of exciting give-aways, including highly sought-after model knee joints kindly provided by Zimmer, wrist bands and lollies promoting the CRC’s messages, balloons and computerised models of lung function to illustrate the importance of lungs and the effect COPD has on them, and handouts on our key diseases, COPD, RA and OA. We thank Zimmer Australia and Lou Irving’s Respiratory Group, RMH for their assistance with the provision of some of the material used.
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