Schools discover Botany at Melbourne

[ The University of Melbourne Voice Vol. 3, No. 1  14 April - 12 May 2008 ]

By Amanda Tattam

The University of Melbourne’s School of Botany is opening its doors to the state’s schools with a series of activities and events designed to provide professional development for teachers and generate interest in plant science among students.

The Schools newly-appointed Community Liaison Officer, Marie Thorpe, says outreach work to schools is valued highly by teachers and students.

Planned activities for this year include a workshop for VCE students and work experience for a small group of Year 10 students.

“We also have some primary school students coming to look at how an electron microscope works,” says Ms Thorpe, who believes that even very young children can be inspired to think about studying botany later in life.

“Teachers make a difference for very young children, but some primary school teachers are hesitant about teaching science. They need support and materials to encourage students who have an aptitude for science,” she says

The School of Botany’s outreach efforts are timely because from November 2008, the Victorian Institute of Teaching is phasing in a new system of teacher registration.

This will involve teachers having to show that they have participated in 50 hours of Professional Development outside the school environment over a five-year period.

“Science teachers are obliged to keep up to date with the latest research and developments in their fields. It’s not easy to access high quality professional development,” says Ms Thorpe. “At the university we can access outstanding speakers who are experts in their respective disciplines.

In late 2007, 80 VCE Biology teachers, representing 68 schools, attended the first free two-day conference at the School of Botany. The event was sponsored by ICM Australia and is planned again for 2009.

Ms Thorpe says she hopes to be able to involve postgraduate students in outreach work too, “so that they can hone their communication skills and students can see these young people studying science as role models”.

The community liaison position is funded by ICM Australia, a large privately-owned Agribusiness Company.

According to Head of Botany Professor Pauline Ladiges, “Plant science is the foundation of sustainable agriculture and many elements of environmental science in Australia. ICM Agribusiness is keen to support our initiatives to encourage bright young students to make a career in plant science and agriculture.”

The School has also continued to offer the Get in Genes program this year (developed by the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics and The Molecular Plant Breeding Co-operative Research Centre).

Get in Genes is a hands-on biotechnology education program designed for senior secondary students, which the School of Botany has hosted for Year 10 and 12 students since 2006.

“When it comes to inspiring school students, the possibilities are endless,” says Ms Thorpe.

The School of Botany’s website is at www.botany.unimelb.edu.au/botany/