The CitizenScience
project has now finished and no further events are planned. Please
click on the links above to find out about just some of the events that
CitizenScience ran through the three year project. For
resources and further information on the issues explored by the project,
please see the Teachers and
Students sections of this site.
Below are descriptions
of just some of the events that CitizenScience ran through the
three year project.
CPD course
in Bristol: Debating Controversial Issues - Science 2006
Nanotechnology - Small but Mighty?
Rainforest Medicines
Obesity
- Fat Future?
Genetics
Fertility - Ethics, Medicine and Me
CPD course in
Bristol
Debating Controversial Issues - Science 2006
Interested in getting students talking about science issues outside
of the traditional formats? |
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This 1-day course
supported teachers from a variety of disciplines
who were seeking to enrich their teaching through discussion of
contemporary social and ethical issues in science. The course was of particular relevance for teachers interested in extending
their cross curricular work (Citizenship, Science, Drama, English, ICT,
Media, RE).
The course built on experience from over 40 Citizen Science special
events delivered by At-Bristol in partnership with teachers and topic
specialists across the South West. The course introduced participants to
a range of classroom friendly discussion and debate formats inspired
by popular culture including games, media, television chat show, role
play, scenario challenges and modelling structured decision making.
These were designed to focus on skills of participation and action in
citizenship around science issues (e.g. childhood obesity, alcohol,
drugs, fertility, designer babies, cloning).
Dates: 14 November 2006.
Click here to download
Debating Controversial Issues support material
To find out more, visit the
Science Learning Centres website or call Science Learning Centre
South West on 0845 345 3344.
Nanotechnology -
Small but Mighty?
KS4
What do you know about nanotechnology? Should you be excited or
concerned? What is for sure is that nanotechnology is the next big
issue.
In this diverse and exciting day long event students used key
citizenship skills, learnt about nanotechnology (including working
with experts in this field), explored the implications for society
and expressed their own feelings on the subject. As a result
of this they produced short film clips. |
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Finally
they were asked to consider their role as citizens and helped
define the debate on nanotechnology by passing their views and policy
preferences to policy makers at a national and international level.
Dates: Contact CitizenScience At-Bristol
Fully Booked
Rainforest Medicines
KS3
'Rainforest Medicines' was an exciting event designed to introduce
students to the wide range of rainforest resources we use in everyday
life. Participants gained hands-on experience of a living
rainforest through visiting Wildwalk and taking part in specially
designed activities that encourage discussion surrounding the ethical
implications of using these natural resources. |
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Over 25% of
life-saving western medicines are derived from rainforest plants. How
does the impact of drug development impact the rainforest's local
communities, and what is the international impact? Students had the
opportunity to expand their knowledge of the rainforest, discuss their
opinions and created their own drug development policies that examine the
benefits and disadvantages to harvesting rainforest medicines.
Dates: Contact CitizenScience At-Bristol
for details
Fully Booked
Obesity - Fat
Future?
KS3
Recent studies suggest that over 60% of British adults and nearly 30% of
British children are overweight. In the UK, obesity has trebled in the
last 20 years, with 1000 people becoming obese every day.
This specially designed event introduced students to the social and
health issues surrounding obesity in young people and to what action they
can take on this issue. Students came up with a variety of solutions to
this societal problem and used a special method for debating the relative
value and social impact of these solutions. They were also given the
opportunity to use the new voting facilities in Explore At-Bristol.
Dates: 25 January 2006 Fully Booked
Genetics
KS3
Genetics is one of the most rapidly advancing areas of science, a science
that affects our lives in many different ways from new medical treatments
to emerging technologies.
This event provided students with opportunities to investigate
the influence of genetics on our lives today, and inquire into what these
new technologies could mean for our futures. Focused activities encouraged discussion and debate of the issues including visiting the
exciting Live Science Zone in Explore At-Bristol. This enabled
students to take an active role, articulating their views and listening
to the views of others.
Dates: 13 June 2006
Fully Booked
Fertility - Ethics,
Medicine and Me
KS4
This special debate day used the topical issue of infertility and
assisted conception to explore ethics in medicine. Young people discussed topical questions such as; ‘Do you have the right to know
your biological father?’ ‘Who deserves assistance with having
children?’ ‘Should we be designing babies?’ They participated in
sessions using two approaches to ethics: |
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Rights based, where the rights and wrongs are considered
- Consequences-based, where the effects on everyone involved in a decision
are taken into consideration
The day encompassed a range of contrasting activities, providing
students with opportunities to explore the issues, discuss differing
opinions, and have their say using a range of exhibits within Explore
At-Bristol including electronic voting and opinion banks.
Dates: 7 February 2006 Fully Booked
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