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CitizenScience aims to engage young people and teachers in discussion about bio-medical science issues that affect society today.

Through three years experience of running debate and discussion style activities, CitizenScience has developed a number of free resources to support discussion on biomedical issues.

These resources are downloadable below.

CPD course – Debating Controversial Issues Suitable for teachers delivering debate and discussion activities as well as the new GCSE science curriculum Click here for more information

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	(787kb) Exploring controversial issues - a teachers' guide
A resource for teachers on how to get the most from facilitated classroom discussion, with tips, tricks and debate format ideas.

	(787kb) Discover Debate Decide: Exploring Ethical Issues
Suitable for KS4 and Post-16 teachers of Science, Citizenship, PSHE and Religious Studies, Discover Debate Decide is designed to engage young people in thinking about, expressing and critically evaluating controversial science and social issues. 1. Who should get IVF This pack is a complete lesson plan examining the question ‘Who should get IVF?’

 

(39kb) Genetic testing - Discussion continuum
Suitable for KS4 and post 16 audiences. This resource uses a number of situation and statement cards to stimulate discussion of social and ethical issues surrounding genetic testing. A very flexible resource that can be used in a number of contexts and easily differentiated and adapted. Download Microsoft Word version of this resource

(337kb) Aftershot
Suitable for KS3 and KS4 audiences. This resource uses a TV chat show format to encourage students to debate social, political and health issues surrounding alcohol consumption. Opportunities for engaging in active citizenship on this topic [PDF]

(1595kb) Genome games

Suitable for KS3 and KS4 audiences. This resource uses games similar to Pictionary, Taboo, Pairs and Consequences to introduce students to a variety of genetics related issues. These games can be used as a stimulus to encourage students to think about the ethical and social consequences of the rapidly moving field of human genetics and the possible impacts on medicine, healthcare and individuals rights. Download Microsoft Word version of this resource Read about At-Bristol's DNA codebreakers workshop designed to introduce pupils to the concept of genes and chromosomes.

(709kb) Ethics, medicine and me

Suitable for KS4 and post 16 audiences. This resource uses issues surrounding the provision of IVF on the NHS and use of IVF in relation to genetic disorders to explore the role of ethics in medicine. Two approaches to ethics are looked at:  • Rights based, where the rights and wrongs are considered.  • Consequences-based, where the effects on everyone involved in a decision are taken into consideration.

(667kb) Drugs on the brain
Suitable for KS3 and KS4 audiences. This resource uses a TV chat show format to encourage students to debate social, political and health issues surrounding the use of drugs.

      
 

(161kb) Nanotechnology pairs game
Suitable for KS3 and KS4 audiences. This resource uses the popular format of a pairs game to introduce students to some of the potential effects of nanotechnology and stimulate discussion on the pros and cons of this revolution in technology. Download Microsoft PowerPoint version of this resource

Debating resources
 

(32kb) Debating formats
A variety of formats that can be used to stimulate or structure successful debate and discussion events. Download Microsoft Word version of this resource