Talking Stem Cells

Resource portfolio and scientist led workshops to enrich the teaching and learning of Stem Cells in Scottish Secondary Schools. The portfolio incorporates interactive student exercises and discussions on science ethical issues within the class and across schools in Scotland, making use of SSCN experts, Glow Meet and public outreach activities.

Resources will be available in a diverse range of media formats from printed workbooks and information sheets, interactive quizzes and learning exploration and video and web based activities. These will be delivered by experts within SSCN including the three scientists who piloted the Stem Cell Roadshow in 2010. Additionally, we will collate specific resources to provide teacher led packs that can be used in schools with online expertise from scientists.

Scientist led Workshops

Scientists will run workshops with focus on:

  • A basic introduction into stem cells, the science.
  • How can we use Stem Cells
  • What does the future hold
  • The Ethical questions
  • Careers in the Stem Cell Industry

Teacher led lessons

An extensive resource for teaching stem cells in Scottish Secondary Schools.

The resource has been developed with the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence in mind and provides easy to access activities to engage pupils in the subject  of Stem Cells across the subject areas of Biology, RMPS and English.

The activities can be used as part of a wider project on Stem Cells or individually to cover specific areas.

To obtain a free copy of the resource kit please contact henriette@sscn.co.uk

Key Objectives

To support the knowledge and understanding of topical issues in the area of stem cells; to provide the foundation for the scientifically sound decision making; to enable and encourage the ethical debate associated with stem cells among young adults; and to demonstrate the opportunities offered by science as a career and thereby encourage more young people to chose to study subjects relevant to Regenerative Medicine. The project closely matches the strategic objectives of ‘Smarter Scotland’ by providing expert support to introduce Stem Cells, an identified key scientific development area, within the Scottish Secondary Schools, while promoting stem cell science as a career option.

Resource bank

Resources will be available in a diverse range of media formats from printed workbooks and information sheets, interactive quizzes and learning exploration and video and web based activities.

Additionally, we will collate specific resources to provide teacher led packs that can be used in schools with online expertise from scientists.

Benefits

A major benefit of this project is the provision of validated material and information by experts active in current research in the field. The involvement of scientists in the delivery of the roadshow introduces reality to the class room experience and provides an opportunity to explore science as a career.

Talking Stem Cells Latest News

Talking Stem Cells on Glow TV - hosted by Forth Valley College
By Henriette Laidlaw 08 Feb 2012
The next Talking Stem Cell event will be hosted by Forth Valley College and two stem cell scientists Dr. Paul Shiels from Glasgow university and Dr. Andy Downes from Edinburgh university will be leading the workshop including interactive activities for the participating students.Â

Dr Paul Shiels works at Glasgow University, Paul’s research career has spanned both industry and academia and has involved 25 years developing a fundamental understanding of biological ageing and disease. 
His research focuses on why we get degenerative diseases as we get chronologically older, despite the presence of multi-potent adult stem cells, with a potential repair capacity. Among his work he has undertaken the analysis of biological aging in cloned animals (including Dolly the sheep).
Recently, he has developed a novel Regenerative Medicine strategy. His group has isolated and investigated a novel adult cell type, Pathfinder cells, to treat human diseases.  Transplantation experiments have shown that both human and rat Pathfinders can successfully mitigate STZ induced diabetes and a two other models of organ damage in mice.. 

Dr Andy Downes works in microscopy and has been applying novel microscopes to stem cells and cancer. Using laser spectroscopy, he is able to take a molecular 'fingerprint' of a cell without disturbing it - for example, easily distinguishing individual stem cells from the liver cells into which he turns them. He has also use microscopes to image stem cells based on these molecular fingerprints. He has used another type of microscope - an Atomic Force Microscope - with a sharp probe to analyze cells by squeezing them, and has measured the stiffness of individual stem cells, which are stiffer than the liver cells into which he turns them.

To join contact Henriette Laidlaw to receive joining pack and information.