Biotechnology Education
Western Australia looks set to become a leader in biotechnology education as partnerships are strengthened with local industry and new links are made with educators in the USA.
Curriculum Council project officer for Human Biological Science, Pauline Charman, said biotechnology was more relevant than ever, because it impacts on every aspect of our lives. It has a particularly big impact on the environment, food and health sectors.
“It is fortuitous that the State Government is strongly committed to biotechnology education,” Pauline said.
Nadine Smith of Murdoch University Rockingham, Warwick Matthews of Shenton College, Pauline Charman of Murdoch College, Cathryn Samarco of Karratha Senior High School and Helen Hawley of Murdoch College all attended this year ’s BioGENEius Challenge in Boston.
She said sponsorship from the Department of Industry and Resources had enabled her and four classroom teachers to attend the sanofi-aventis Biotechnology Institute Education Conference in Boston, USA, in May.
“The conference included the final round of a biotechology research competition for high school students,” Pauline said.
“Next year, WA has been invited to participate in the competition, called the BioGENEius Challenge. Two Western Australian students will travel to San Diego to compete in the final,” she said.
“Right now we’re trying to identify people to mentor students – this has involved approaching the university academics, the CSIRO and industry.”
Biotechnology is included in all five new science courses being introduced to the senior secondary school curriculum — Biological Sciences, Human Biological Science, Agricultural Science, Marine and Maritime Technology and Integrated Science.
Pauline said teachers can feel confident that new biotechnology material will be embedded in the five new science courses. The Curriculum Council will ensure that teachers will be upskilled with relevant and up-to-date information.
Teachers wishing to nominate a student for the international BioGENEius Challenge should contact Pauline Charman at the Curriculum Council on 9273 6743.
- The teachers who attended the biotechnology conference in the USA this year were Nadine Smith from the Kwinana Industries Education Project, Helen Hawley from Murdoch College, Warwick Matthews from Shenton College and Cathryn Samarco from Karratha Senior High School.
