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Primary students learn importance of handwashing

Primary students learn importance of handwashing
17 May 2017
Giant microbes, contests and agar plates made a fun introduction to science

IBMS life member and STEM ambassador Eric Martindale was invited to speak to pupils from p3 to p7 of St Francis Primary School in Glasgow. This was an initiative organised by the school to hold a ‘Science Week’ to promote science to students.

This is his account of his experience:

“For Science Week, I was asked to chat about my job as a Biomedical Scientist in Microbiology as they’ve been learning about diseases.
I started off with throwing Giant Microbes to be caught by the pupils. These are fluffy toy representations of common microbes. This immediately catches their attention. A white one with red spots is measles, one looking a bit like a chicken is naturally chicken pox, but their favourite was Superbug (MRSA) who is depicted with a black cape.
Following a short 5-minute power point presentation showing the relative size of microorganisms from a pin head and a human hair down to dust mites, pollen grain, bacteria to the common cold virus particles and how they are not all bad showing a range of products that microbes help to make like cheese, bread and even antibiotics.
For a practical I had my assistants, who were suitably attired in mini lab coats, doing finger impressions on agar plates before and after shaking hands with all their classmates. Results shocked them and drove home the message of the importance of washing hands before eating etc.
Introduction to other scientific matters included; pH testing with the use of litmus paper against a colour chart and sampling baking soda, vinegar, tap water and saliva. Naming and handling common glassware implements (e.g. beaker, flask and measuring cylinder) cleaning copper coins with a cut lime and a physics experiment involving a ‘magic trick’ of how to get an empty drink can from one tea cup into another without touching anything.
This was the most popular exercise of the day which became quite competitive with pupils and teachers alike. The solution is to blow sharply down one side of the cup forcing the can upwards until gravity pulls it down into the other cup. Simple but extremely engaging, which is important with this age group.
Later in the afternoon and along with parents we had several stalls laid out in the main school hall by different Glasgow University Science Departments, including Physics, Astronomy, Parasitology and Pathology and IBMS with Microbiology
There was a microscope stall demonstrating stained bacteria and tissue samples. The children loved operating the fine adjustment to bring cells into sharp focus. Their faces just lit up when you assured them that they too could be scientists especially if they maintain their inquisitive minds.  
Many parents confirmed that they enjoyed the Science Week event and that they could see their children going on to become Biomedical Scientists of the future.”

Do you have a biomedical science event planned and need help promoting it? Contact pe@ibms.org today. If you want to be like Eric and share your professional knowledge, see the public engagement page.

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