Students solve outbreak
Years 10, 11 and 12 solve the mystery
HIGH school students spent a day as the University of Southern Queensland’s lead disease outbreak investigation team, using biotechnology techniques to solve a scientific mystery.
Outbreak: Finding Patient Zero is a school engagement workshop for Years 10, 11 and 12 students with an interest in science.
The budding young scientists who came from Darling Downs Christian School and exchange students from Seijo Junior and Senior High School in Japan, were involved in the workshop last week, which marked National Science Week, Australia’s annual celebration of science and technology.
More than 150 students were faced with a fictitious situation to solve – a disease outbreak caused by an unknown pathogen.
Luckily, real-life scientists from USQ were on hand to help the students identify the pathogen using DNA extractions, PCR, gel electrophoresis, cell staining and microscopy.
USQ senior lecturer (Biomedical Science) Dr Eliza Whiteside said the workshop provided an opportunity for high school students to engage in real world laboratory science.
“The workshop teaches students cutting edge techniques that are actually used in molecular biology laboratories,” Dr Whiteside said.
“It is a great opportunity for the students to see the reality of science as well as showcase USQ’s science laboratories and meet the biomedical sciences teaching and research staff.”
DDCS Year 12 student Clayton Booth liked the solution testing to find the contaminated patient and the scientific experiments that followed.
“I have enjoyed being in the laboratory and seeing how it all works, and be able to apply it to real-life situations,” he said.
“These type of scenarios are really interesting, fun and also practical.”
Learn more by visiting www.usq.edu.au/.