November 2011 - University of Worcester

Insight into life behind a lab coatPupils from a Redditch school spent the day making DNA smoothiesand carrying out DNA tests as part of a biology discover day at theUniversity of Worcester.The University’s Institute of Science &the Environment hosted the event to giveschoolchildren an insight into life behind a labcoat.Eleven students, from Trinity High School inRedditch, spent the day in the University’sDarwin lab with Dr Lee Byrne, Dr MikeWheeler and Mark Cook.The students were given an overview by DrByrne of what it is like to study Biology atWorcester, the kinds of research that membersof staff were involved in and crucially the kindof jobs that a degree in Biology might enablethem to consider in the future.The students then had an intensive practicalsession including making an ‘alcoholicbanana DNA smoothie’; making an agarosegel and running DNA to figure out a forensic‘whodunnit’ and identifying human whiteblood cells by microscopy.Dr Byrne said: “The session was a great success.The students were really eager and enthusiasticand it was a great pleasure to spend half a daywith them. The feedback from Trinity High wasexcellent.”Trinity High teacher, CarneaWoods, said that the studentshad a “fantastic day” and Head ofSixth Form, Jeremy Petit, said heknew “that next term, when in year13, many of these students will putUniversity of Worcester down asone of their choices.”Dr Byrne added: “It was a greatday and we hope to put on manymore ‘Discover Biology at Worcester’ sessions.Many thanks also to Biology undergraduateDragana Catici, Dr Karen Blackmore from theInstitute of Education, and Mike’s lab assistant,Susan Harding, for their help and showing suchgreat enthusiasm with the students.”Any schools interested in taking partin Discovery Days at the University ofWorcester should contact the Schools andColleges Liaison Service atd.crawford@worc.ac.uk or call 01905 855393.Chapter explores changing nature of librariesJudith Elkin, Professor Emeritus ofChildren’s Literature, has writtenabout the changing nature of librariesand the impact on children.In a chapter published in Libraries andSociety: Role Responsibility and Futurein an Age of Change, Professor Elkin,a recognised authority on librariesfor children and young people, looksat how ‘libraries might cater for themany and varied needs of the child.’Professor Elkin, places libraries at the heart of education,explaining that they play a vital role in developing earlyliteracy and allowing children to develop in a friendlyenvironment, ‘regardless of age, gender, race, wealth,physical or intellectual ability or geographical location.’The question facing libraries now is how they will continue toprovide a valuable service, whilst responding to a rapidly changingworld in which the future of the written word is becominglyincreasingly uncertain. But as Professor Elkin asserts, librariesare responding well, expanding their services to incorporatemultimedia, audiovisual and computer technology.DiscoverydaysNEWSDramaDiscover, engage, inspireDiscoverydaysBiologyimaginative model for library users. Indeed, no-one could havefailed to notice the shiny new ‘super’ library that is currently underconstruction. Due to open in July 2012, the building is Europe’sfirst fully integrated public and university library, housing a quarterof a million books, journals, DVDs and music collections.Professor Elkin regards Worcester’s new library as a ‘symbol ofshared learning, culture and information that contributes uniquelyto the regeneration of Worcester.’ She dismisses the idea thatthe new library could be considered elitist given its focus on‘accessibility, transparency, flexibility, community, regenerationand partnership’. Younger users in particular will benefit fromthe expertise of specialist librarians as well as activities that aimto develop reader’s abilities. Children will also have differentspaces for both quiet work and noisier, creative activities.Discover, engage, inspireProfessor Elkin cites the soon-to-be-unveiled Worcester Libraryand History Centre, known as The Hive, as an innovative andImpression of how children will use The Hivenewsandviews@worc.ac.uk / NOVEMBER 2011 / 9