UQ holds DNA science workshop for secondary science teachers
Forty secondary school science teachers will go back to school early this month to learn about cutting-edge advances in DNA science and molecular genetics.
The University of Queensland's Faculty of Biological and Chemical Sciences, as part of its commitment to science education, is organising a DNA Science workshop from January 18 to 21 at the University's Biochemistry Department.
State Education Minister Dean Wells will open the workshop on January 18 at 9.40am at room 228, Molecular Biosciences Building, Cooper Road, St Lucia.
Faculty Schools Liaison Officer Ann Meiklejohn said the workshop aimed to invigorate and enthuse secondary science teachers and give them hands-on experience in DNA technology during the four-day laboratory course.
"Teachers are giving up part of their holidays to hear lectures from eminent researchers and keep up to date in the rapidly advancing field of gene technology," she said.
"We hope that as a result of the enthusiasm these teachers will take back to the classroom, students will be excited about science."
The course will include hands-on laboratory sessions in recombinant DNA technologies such as restriction enzymes (used to cut DNA at a particular place); separation and analysis of DNA fragments (a fundamental technique used in genetic engineering and gene cloning); and cloning of genes.
Lectures will cover topics including medical genetics, molecular drug design, agricultural biotechnology, molecular tools for conservation biology, as well as ethics and social issues.
Co-director of the Institute for Molecular Bioscience Professor John Mattick will discuss Knowledge and Social (R)evolution at the workshop dinner at Indooroopilly Golf Club on January 20 at 7.30pm.
Biochemistry Department academics Dr Paul Ebert and Dr Joe Rothnagel have organised the sessions, which also include a computer workshop, group discussions on how to introduce gene technology into the classroom, and biosafety.
For further information, contact Ann Meiklejohn telephone 07 3365 6636.
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