CHARTING FUTURES Education and The New Genetics Suzanne Cory Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research 20/5/04

GTAC Gene Technology Access Centre Partners The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute Dept of Microbiology & Immunology, Uni Melb The University High School Dept of Education and Training

Origins DNA Learning Centre Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, NY DNA Science Workshop Summer Workshop, WEHI /Uni Melbourne PD for VCE Biology Teachers DNA lab course + lectures 178 graduates

Goals To excite young people about science and a research career To enrich delivery of science in the classroom To increase genetics literacy of teachers, students and the wider community To facilitate informed debate about new ethical, legal and societal issues

GTAC Pilot Program Partnership with University High School DET Funding -Science in Schools Strategy Project Officer - Brian Stevenson DNA Science classroom workshops for Victorian secondary school students One day lab workshops for teachers, teachers-in-training Lectures from eminent researchers

Student participation at GTAC

GTAC House Location: University High School, Parkville Funding: DET,Philanthropy Architect: Tectura Pty Ltd Construction Jan Feb 2004 First classes May 2004

Teaching labs, lecture theatre, gallery space, offices meeting room,

Collaborations Cooperative Research Centres Melbourne Museum Department of Genetics, Uni Melb Murdoch Children’s Research Institute Genetech GTAC works with a variety of like minded groups

‘GTAC Magic’ Hands-on Research quality equipment Role models - PhD student demonstrators “Small groups with demonstrator make it easier to understand concepts.” “I learned stuff (which was a first).” “I got a better understanding of the biotech stuff.” “I learnt a great deal today, more than all year. A big pay rise for Hayley and Melissa is in order”. “Better than School bio, made more sense.” “Sooo much better than School.”

Future Goals Empowering primary school teachers Public lectures on important bio issues Workshops for professionals Seamless genetics curriculum P-12 Integrating with maths, physics, chemistry eg bioinformatics National programs