Mechanisms of epithelial polarity in flies and mammals (360G-Wellcome-207496_Z_17_A)

AS/A/GCSE-level biology specifications have recently shifted toward an increased focus on practical skills1that teachers and schools don’t necessarily have the equipment or knowledge to confidently foster across the biology curriculum2. The Scientists' Collaborative Project with Educators (SCoPE) is a pilot public engagement project aiming to create three practical toolkits for use in biology classrooms. The toolkits will be connected to the national curriculum and also strongly linked to research developed at the Gurdon Institute. They will be co-created through a series of interactions between state school AS/A/GCSE-level teachers and scientists, together with professional designers. Toolkits could include laboratory materials, videos, and more. They will be re-usable and shareable and made available to teachers across the country. According to our research, the UK doesn’t have any other programmes with a similarly intense focus on teacher-scientist co-creation3-8. SCoPE will foster a culture of mutual learning between scientists and teachers while bringing new practical activities and contemporary research into the classroom. Scientists will develop greater understanding of how their research fits in with the education system and is perceived students. Teachers will deepen their knowledge of fundamental biology and current techniques and expose their students to materials and information that they may not otherwise have access to. Students will perceive the importance of the topics they are studying when connected to current research, encouraging them to see research as a relevant and attractive career choice. SCoPE will be assessed and evaluated in partnership with the University of Cambridge Faculty of Education.