Promoting school learners’ understanding of genomics: determining the basis for further research and curriculum development

Genomics is at the forefront of modern biology, concerned with understanding the role of genomes in the development and functioning of organisms. Yet school science faces a challenge: how to move beyond the traditional focus on the functions and inheritance of single genes.

This collaborative research project between the University of York Science Education Group (UYSEG) and the Wellcome Genome Campus Public Engagement (WGCPE) team aims to survey the current landscape of research, opinion and teaching resources related to genomics education in schools.

It is intended that this work will lead to, and inform, future educational research in genomics, and will foster research-informed curriculum and resources development.

This project is sponsored by the Wellcome Genome Campus Public Engagement team.

Key objectives

To conduct a discussion among the UK biology education research community to gain their perspectives on priorities in genomics education.

To complete a landscape review of research regarding teaching and learning of ideas related to genomics.

To survey resources available to support teaching and learning about genomics-related biology.

Outputs

Initial findings were presented at the ERIDOB conference in Karlstad, Sweden, in September 2016. The outputs of this project are expected to be published in 2017.

ERIDOB 2016 Conference poster (PDF , 2,559kb)

ERIDOB 2016 conference abstract (PDF , 47kb)

Project team

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Jeremy Airey
UYSEG, Principal Investigator

Alistair Moore
UYSEG

Francesca Gale
Wellcome Genome Campus
Public Engagement

Joanna MacDonald
UYSEG, Project Administrator
uyseg@york.ac.uk