CLOSPORE OUTREACH
SBRC Microbes Learning Journey
March 2017
Louise Dynes (SBRC Outreach & Communications Officer) recently organized a microbes learning journey (second year running) with help from the University of Nottingham’s Widening Participation team, for years 5 pupils at Rosslyn Park Primary School in Nottingham. The learning journey took place over a month with 3 visits to the school by four members of the SBRC, including Clospore ESR Rubab Rizvi.
The activities carried out during the visits were agreed between teachers and PhD students beforehand in order to support the schools’ curriculum and showcase the expertise of the scientists, as well as excite pupils about the topic of microbiology and raising awareness of higher educational routes.
Aims of the project:
- To build confidence and self-esteem through individual achievement and collaborating with a group
- To enable pupils to meet and work with real research scientists
- To give pupils a contextualised visit to the University of Nottingham
- To enable pupils to meet and work with real research scientists
- To give pupils a contextualised visit to the University of Nottingham
- To apply and improve their working scientifically skills (upper Key Stage Two National Curriculum)
- To excite pupils about the topic of microbiology
Visit 1: SBRC volunteers spent the whole afternoon with a class, introducing themselves and the subject of microbiology and microbes including the good/bad/useful ones. The PhD students (Rubab) also planned a ‘swabbing the classroom’ exercise, they helped the pupils plan the investigation and how to make predictions.
The pupils then took a petri dish containing agar and swabbed a part of their classroom. Each pupil decided what to swab, choosing books, doors, light switches, and much more! The PhD students then took away the petri dishes to incubate them and note microbial growth.
Visit 2: The PhD students (Rubab) presented the class images of the microbial growth from the swabbing exercise and discussed what and why this could be seen. The pupils were given a print out of the plate and the labled the ‘bacteria and fungi’. They also counted the amount of colonies and made a bar chart from the results.
Rubab Rizvi (far left) with colleagues at Roslyn Park High School (Nottingham)
Greenlight for Girls
February 2017
Greenlight for Girls (greenlightforgirls.org) is an organisation that aims to encourage girls of all ages and backgrounds in science, math, engineering and technology. This is done through public engagement events for girls that demonstrate how STEM subjects can be interesting and fun.
Using her skills and knowledge as a microbiologist, Sasha took part in a g4g event in Oxford in February 2017.
European Researcher's Night
September 2016
The European Researcher's Night in Lisbon took place at Pavilhão do Conhecimento, the headquarters of the Ciência Viva initiative in Portugal (Knowledge Pavilion, Living Science Center). Eleonora Marini, Amaury Fasquelle and Professor Adriano Henriques were responsible for the European Corner, talking to visitors about research and opportunities within the European area, and about our personal experience as Marie Curie fellows. The activity had the participation of well above 3000 people.
Prof Adriano Henriques giving a talk at the European Researchers Night, Lisbon
Clospore fellows Eleonora Marini and Amaury Fasquelle at the European Researcher's Night
Oxford Science Festival
June 2016
Oxford Science Festival (http://www.oxfordshiresciencefestival.com/) aims to engage and enthuse people about science by offering accessible, creative and relevant activities to the broadest possible range of people. Green Biologics’ ESR, Aretha ‘Sasha’ Atmadjaja, is a registered STEM ambassador and volunteers at the Festival.
Sasha Atmadjaja conducting science demonstrations at the Oxford Science Festival
Gut Thinking – How your Microbes Influence your Life
April 2016
"If you think you are 100% human, then you should think again." Although microorganisms generally have a bad reputation for causing diseases, the truth is, the majority of them actually have a positive influence on our health and well-being. 'Gut Thinking – How your Microbes Influence your Life' is an outreach event hosted by AR at the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon.
Amaury Fasquelle took part in the event. Amaury was responsible for showing and explaining the difference of microbiota across the body, relying on Petri dishes on which these microbiota were growing. The venue was full, and a live streaming of the event permitted people unable to come to watch the conferences on the host's website.
Further details are available at the AR website, http://events.ar.fchampalimaud.org/gut-thinking/
Amaury Fasquelle at the AR event, 'Gut Thinking – How your Microbes Influence your Life
More photos from the event available at Imgrum ITQB"