DNA goes to School

Abstract

"O DNA vai à Escola" was performed at the Escola Secundária de Paredes (ESP) between February and July 2013. In this partnership, students of the last year of the degree in Biologia Aplicada (BA) and professors from Departamento de Biologia of the Universidade do Minho organized several workshops and lectures addressed to the students of 12th grade, and to their biology teachers, at ESP. One of the most successful activities was the set of three hands-on sessions named "O DNA chegou à ESP", which was supported by eight students of BA and presented to 50 students of ESP. The impact of these practical sessions was assessed through questionnaires filled by the student community, the students-supervisors, and the teachers of ESP.This presentation will show the main results of this project, highlighting the relevance of this kind of activities, namely those related with the promotion of science education and scientific literacy. The data collected allowed concluding that, among other aspects, the interaction with students of higher education was one of the most appreciated novelties of these hands-on activities.