EVENT
GENETICS: BRINGING CUTTING EDGE SCIENCE INTO THE CLASSROOM - CPD TEACHER TRAINING COURSE
Start date
6th June 2017
Time
9.30 am to 3.30 pm
Venue
Rothamsted Research, Harpenden AL5 2JQ
Organiser
Centre for STEM Education, University of Hertfordshire, in association with Rothamsted Research.
Enquiries
Event type
Training & Education
Cost
£210* + VAT (*RCUK bursary available for state funded schools and colleges)
The understanding of genetics will have a central role to play in the lives of future generations, making it vital that we nurture and develop this area in our future scientists who will add to the knowledge pool in this field of science.
You will work in state-of-the-art facilities and experience hands on activities and opportunities for discussions with research scientists at Rothamsted Research.
You will be able to:
- identify new contexts and ideas for effective delivery of How Science Works
- explore scientific issues and controversies
- engage with inspiring teaching resources and approaches including practical work
- work alongside scientists involved in cutting edge research to develop knowledge and skills in authentic contexts
| 9.00 am | Arrival and Tea/Coffee |
| 9.30 am | Introduction and Welcome, Janet Cardell, Centre for STEM Education and Rothamsted Communication and Public Engagement team |
| 9.40 am | Dr Mark Wilkinson: ‘Wheat - Two Sides to Every Crop!’ |
| 10.30 am | Refreshments |
| 10.45 pm | Workshop A – Dr Mark Wilkinson. This talk will not only cover the huge impact of wheat on our everyday living and a source of dietary fibre, but also its importance for the biofuel market. |
| 12.00 pm | Workshop B – Dr Caroline Sparks |
| 13.15 pm | Lunch |
| 14.00 pm | Teaching resources and links to GCE and GCSE specifications – Janet Cardell, Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School |
| 14.15 pm | Plenary and Evaluations – sharing of teaching ideas |
| 14.30 pm | Tour of Rothamsted – to end approx 15.30 |
You will have the opportunity to engage in three main activities during the day:
Workshop A
- Dr Mark Wilkinson: Laboratory Demonstrations and hands-on practical work to cover genomic DNA extraction, PCR setting up and gel running with prior examples for each stage.
Workshop B
- Dr Caroline Sparks will cover the basis of wheat transformation: isolating the tissues which are used, carrying out the process of introducing the DNA, demonstrating how a plant is then regenerated. If time and weather permit, there will be a tour of the glasshouses, where GM plants are grown.
Rothamsted ResearchTour
- Rothamsted Communication and Public Engagement team: Centenary Building (where most of the molecular biology is carried out), the Bioimaging Unit and the sample archive (a unique resource with more than 300,000 samples from our long term field experiments some of which have been running continuously since the 19th Century).