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Team:Kyoto/Policy and Practice
From 2014.igem.org
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<h2>Our Questions</h2> | <h2>Our Questions</h2> | ||
<p>Consequently last year, iGEM Kyoto 2014 decided to carry popularization activity of synthetic biology as a human practice. Because we thought there are some problems one of whose cause is not having accurate knowledge about biotechnology. For example, unreasonable fear of genetic modification and untowardness of discussions about biosafety. These situations are causing untowardness of discussions about important problems, such as a question about ethics or safety.</p> | <p>Consequently last year, iGEM Kyoto 2014 decided to carry popularization activity of synthetic biology as a human practice. Because we thought there are some problems one of whose cause is not having accurate knowledge about biotechnology. For example, unreasonable fear of genetic modification and untowardness of discussions about biosafety. These situations are causing untowardness of discussions about important problems, such as a question about ethics or safety.</p> | ||
| - | <p>Thus, as annual popularization activity, we did a poster session in November Festival 2013, the school festival of Kyoto University. In the festival, some of our audience said | + | <p>Thus, as annual popularization activity, we did a poster session in November Festival 2013, the school festival of Kyoto University. In the festival, some of our audience said "before the explanation, synthetic biology was totally strange for me and had a negative image by its name, but now I think your work and synthetic biology are interesting." Through this experiment, we really felt synthetic biology is known widely.</p> |
<p>In facing such a situation, we doubted our popularization activity up till then. And we felt we have to consider bringing a new way. Thus, we set our question as below; how should we have interaction with people who are not part of scientific society as an organization of college student?</p> | <p>In facing such a situation, we doubted our popularization activity up till then. And we felt we have to consider bringing a new way. Thus, we set our question as below; how should we have interaction with people who are not part of scientific society as an organization of college student?</p> | ||
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<p>Then, we started to consider how to approach. At first, we recalled the experience, and we thought our explanation is enough to tell how synthetic biology is interesting. However, we realized there is a little occasion to do a presentation for considerable number of people. Then, we considered how we get an audience and decided to visit high schools. We also sought to introduce them into our field and enlarge our voice in future. Thus, we visited Zeze high school, Shiga Prefecture. And, explained what iGEM is, what synthetic biology is, what we did in 2013 and how we realized the project to a class for students who want to enter scientific departments.</p> | <p>Then, we started to consider how to approach. At first, we recalled the experience, and we thought our explanation is enough to tell how synthetic biology is interesting. However, we realized there is a little occasion to do a presentation for considerable number of people. Then, we considered how we get an audience and decided to visit high schools. We also sought to introduce them into our field and enlarge our voice in future. Thus, we visited Zeze high school, Shiga Prefecture. And, explained what iGEM is, what synthetic biology is, what we did in 2013 and how we realized the project to a class for students who want to enter scientific departments.</p> | ||
<p>After the teaching, some students took an interest in iGEM high school and visited our lab. This convinced us of the effectiveness of communication. However, in this way, we have to make preparation for every class, and it forces us much effort. While our education program should be spread for all over Japan, it is difficult to spread in this method.</p> | <p>After the teaching, some students took an interest in iGEM high school and visited our lab. This convinced us of the effectiveness of communication. However, in this way, we have to make preparation for every class, and it forces us much effort. While our education program should be spread for all over Japan, it is difficult to spread in this method.</p> | ||
| - | <p>We thought how to improve this weak point, and decided to change our approach. Our new approach is like this; make a booklet for distributing it widely in Japanese high school. We aimed the booklet can promote | + | <p>We thought how to improve this weak point, and decided to change our approach. Our new approach is like this; make a booklet for distributing it widely in Japanese high school. We aimed the booklet can promote readers' interests in synthetic biology and reasonable understanding. Therefore, we made plans as following.</p> |
| - | <p>To tell how biology is interesting, explanation about how gene is getting worked and affects biological activity and how we manipulate genes is written, avoiding using technical terms as possible. Add to it, iGEM Kyoto | + | <p>To tell how biology is interesting, explanation about how gene is getting worked and affects biological activity and how we manipulate genes is written, avoiding using technical terms as possible. Add to it, iGEM Kyoto 2012' project is explained in the same section.</p> |
<p>To tell what synthetic biology is, many cute illustrations are used for making it easy to understand.</p> | <p>To tell what synthetic biology is, many cute illustrations are used for making it easy to understand.</p> | ||
<p>To support learning more detailed things, we wrote reviews of our recommendation books.</p> | <p>To support learning more detailed things, we wrote reviews of our recommendation books.</p> | ||
| - | <p>Before distributing the booklet, we asked Mr. Takada, a science teacher in high school attached to Kyoto University of Education, to comment on our booklet. He commented as | + | <p>Before distributing the booklet, we asked Mr. Takada, a science teacher in high school attached to Kyoto University of Education, to comment on our booklet. He commented as "Photos and cute illustrations making the booklet easy to read. This point is very good. I thought writing subtitles and main contents as a form of Question and Answer makes the booklet easier to read for readers who are not interested is science. Furthermore, we also asked Dr. Kano, professor of science communication, to evaluate the booklet. He said ""</p> |
<p>As those comments saying, our approach has certain potential to attribute science education. And making the booklet also affected our works. We re-realized what synthetic biology is.</p> | <p>As those comments saying, our approach has certain potential to attribute science education. And making the booklet also affected our works. We re-realized what synthetic biology is.</p> | ||
<p>Through the approach, we reached an answer to our question; we can play a leading role to get closer scientific society and public and we should do.</p> | <p>Through the approach, we reached an answer to our question; we can play a leading role to get closer scientific society and public and we should do.</p> | ||
Revision as of 08:52, 15 October 2014
Policy & Practice
Our Questions
Consequently last year, iGEM Kyoto 2014 decided to carry popularization activity of synthetic biology as a human practice. Because we thought there are some problems one of whose cause is not having accurate knowledge about biotechnology. For example, unreasonable fear of genetic modification and untowardness of discussions about biosafety. These situations are causing untowardness of discussions about important problems, such as a question about ethics or safety.
Thus, as annual popularization activity, we did a poster session in November Festival 2013, the school festival of Kyoto University. In the festival, some of our audience said "before the explanation, synthetic biology was totally strange for me and had a negative image by its name, but now I think your work and synthetic biology are interesting." Through this experiment, we really felt synthetic biology is known widely.
In facing such a situation, we doubted our popularization activity up till then. And we felt we have to consider bringing a new way. Thus, we set our question as below; how should we have interaction with people who are not part of scientific society as an organization of college student?
Our Approach
Then, we started to consider how to approach. At first, we recalled the experience, and we thought our explanation is enough to tell how synthetic biology is interesting. However, we realized there is a little occasion to do a presentation for considerable number of people. Then, we considered how we get an audience and decided to visit high schools. We also sought to introduce them into our field and enlarge our voice in future. Thus, we visited Zeze high school, Shiga Prefecture. And, explained what iGEM is, what synthetic biology is, what we did in 2013 and how we realized the project to a class for students who want to enter scientific departments.
After the teaching, some students took an interest in iGEM high school and visited our lab. This convinced us of the effectiveness of communication. However, in this way, we have to make preparation for every class, and it forces us much effort. While our education program should be spread for all over Japan, it is difficult to spread in this method.
We thought how to improve this weak point, and decided to change our approach. Our new approach is like this; make a booklet for distributing it widely in Japanese high school. We aimed the booklet can promote readers' interests in synthetic biology and reasonable understanding. Therefore, we made plans as following.
To tell how biology is interesting, explanation about how gene is getting worked and affects biological activity and how we manipulate genes is written, avoiding using technical terms as possible. Add to it, iGEM Kyoto 2012' project is explained in the same section.
To tell what synthetic biology is, many cute illustrations are used for making it easy to understand.
To support learning more detailed things, we wrote reviews of our recommendation books.
Before distributing the booklet, we asked Mr. Takada, a science teacher in high school attached to Kyoto University of Education, to comment on our booklet. He commented as "Photos and cute illustrations making the booklet easy to read. This point is very good. I thought writing subtitles and main contents as a form of Question and Answer makes the booklet easier to read for readers who are not interested is science. Furthermore, we also asked Dr. Kano, professor of science communication, to evaluate the booklet. He said ""
As those comments saying, our approach has certain potential to attribute science education. And making the booklet also affected our works. We re-realized what synthetic biology is.
Through the approach, we reached an answer to our question; we can play a leading role to get closer scientific society and public and we should do.
To prevail such approach, we open our booklet to public. We are glad when it helps your projects.
Discussion
As we described, teaching in High schools is effective approach. We will continue the teaching in parallel with attributing the booklet.
We still have not distributed the booklet to high school students. Thus, we will distribute it to high school attached to Kyoto University of Education as a trial. Then, get feedback from students and modify it. After modification, we will contact the Kyoto City Board of Education to ask distribute the booklet to high schools in Kyoto city.
