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Education and Public Engagement
Intro
Education and Public Engagement is an integral part of APC’s strategy. It is informed by research on public perception and understanding of microbiome science and by government policy. The goals of our EPE programme are to foster an awareness and interest in microbiome science among the general public, including schools and young people, and to train APC researchers to effectively communicate their research to non-specialist audiences.
Overview of APC Education and Public Engagement
APC researchers engage with the community through three core programmes:
- Education
- Early Intervention
- Engaged Research with a focus on Citizen Science.
Underpinned by evidence-based design and targeted communications, APC’s approach to EPE is focused and strategic. Programmes are planned, implemented and evaluated to maximise the societal impact of our research.
All APC staff play an active role in sharing our excitement about APC research, engaging with patient groups, consumers and young people, in order to encourage future generations to develop an understanding of the science issues that affect society.
Further Info
For further information on APC’s Education & Public Engagement programme please contact:
- Caoimhe Byrne | cbyrne@ucc.ie
Primary School Activities and Resources
The Invisible Made Visible - Science-Art Project
To celebrate the launch of The Invisible Made Visible, APC are delighted to offer free pre-cut jellyfish stencils to primary schools who would like to try the activity with their class. Use the coupon code: uvv5fstk. Limited supply available, only one pack per school.
Alternatively, you can find a free jellyfish template in the Education Pack for Teachers if you would like to make your own stencil.
The Invisible Made Visible explains the scientific process of Covid testing through the creative process of lino-printing and film. Aimed at primary learners, this STEAM-Art project is a creative collaboration between botanical artist Shevaun Doherty and APC principal investigator Dr Cormac Gahan.
This project is supported by Science Foundation Ireland’s Discover Primary Science and Maths programme. You can read more about the project, and others in the series, at https://www.sfi.ie/engagement/art-collaboration/.
World Microbiome Day - Competitions for all ages
This year there are two drawing competitions:
- for ages 5 – 9 and
- 10 – 14
with prizes of microbiome themed books:
- The Gut Garden by Katie Brosnan and
- The Gut Stuff by Lisa and Alana MacFarlane.
For older Microbiome enthusiasts there is a competition for “Showcasing your Food Microbe Hobby” with a chance to win an ASUS 14” Windows 10 Laptop. This is for the gardeners, sourdough bakers, brewers, home composters, mushroom collectors and growers and anybody else who has a hobby where microbes are an essential part of it!
- Continuous Professional Development for Primary School Teachers:
- APC contributes to the teacher summer course “Exploring Primary Science” at the Lifetime Lab. This course is approved by the Department of Education.
- Microbe Magic Website
- Suitable for school students, teachers and parents. You will meet characters such as GI Jake, a bifidobacterium, and Luke O’Cyte, a white blood cell, together with educational multimedia games, experiments, quizzes and competitions or have your questions asked by an APC scientist!
- Mind Your Microbes App
- Mind Your Microbes allows you to explore the Gastrointestinal System and Microbiome to learn how age, diet and exercise can influence the diversity of human gut bacteria.
For more information please contact our Education and Public Engagement Manager, Caoimhe Byrne – email: CByrne@ucc.ie; tel: 021 4901393
Secondary School Activities and Resources
Budding Biologists
Budding Biologists is APC’s programme for secondary schools. It aims to promote an understanding and appreciation of science in young people and to highlight career opportunities in science. APC also supports CPD for teachers, recognizing the important role teachers play in developing scientists of the future.
Activities
Budding Biologists 2023 – Transition Year Programme
Our Budding Biologist programme will run from 17th - 21st April inclusive.
Applications are now open. Please use this application form to apply.
The closing date for applications is the 31st January at 5 pm. We will not be able to consider late applications. Applicants will receive confirmation on whether their application was successful by 13th February 2023.
Due to the large amount of interest in the programme, we may not be able to accommodate all applicants. Participants will be selected based on their interest in science and their potential to benefit from the programme. We particularly welcome applications from DEIS schools.
Continuous Professional Development for Teachers
APC facilitates workshops for secondary school teachers, developed as part of the new STEAM curriculum Junior Cycle for Teachers. JCT STEAM provides Junior Cycle teachers with rich STE(A)M professional learning experiences in keeping with national and international best standards.
STEM Career talks
APC researchers visit schools to give career talks as part of Science Foundation Ireland’s Smart Futures initiative. This initiative encourages students to study science at third level, illustrates scientific career opportunities and enhances their scientific awareness.
Workshops for Secondary Schools
Currently we are creating a new programme targeted specifically at DEIS schools in a more sustained way. All schools are welcome to register their interest in a workshop, but please be advised we have reduced the number of visits we can accommodate this year to allow us to develop our new programme. Please check back for updates.
Further information
For all schools’ activities please contact our Education & Public Engagement manager, Caoimhe Byrne – Email: cbyrne@ucc.ie; Tel 021 4901393
3rd and 4th Level
The development of APC staff and students is of crucial importance to meet the APC goal of producing the scientific leaders of tomorrow. This is achieved through the professional laboratory training of postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Our EPE programme has also taken a lead role in developing new educational programmes to strengthen the skills of our research community in areas such as entrepreneurship, presentation skills, innovation and business development.
APC’s Principal Investigators also make significant contributions to both graduate and undergraduate education in UCC, CIT and Teagasc, by incorporating cutting edge research discoveries into their lectures and by providing a unique multidisciplinary perspective on science and research to undergraduate students of science and medicine.
APC Summer Student Bursaries
APC offers 8 bursaries to 3rd level science, medicine (undergraduate/graduate entry) and engineering students based in Irish Universities who would like to gain valuable lab experience through a 2-month internship. Unfortunately, due to COVID restrictions, we will not run our annual Summer Internship Programme in 2021. We plan to offer summer internship opportunities again in 2022.
STEM Careers Initiatives
APC staff and students receive training and participate in STEM career initiatives e.g. Smart Futures and science communication competitions such as Famelab and Pint of Science.
Famelab Ireland
APC partners with the British Council and Tyndall National Institute, IPIC, Infant and MaREI in organising the CORK HEAT of Famelab Ireland. The National Final took place in Cork on 15 April 2020.
Public Activities and Resources
Science is the language of the 21st Century and societal scientific literacy is the currency that will help the development of Ireland’s Knowledge Economy. The aim of the APC’s Public Engagement Programme is to engage the wider scientific community and stimulate public interest in, and understanding of, science in society, with particular emphasis on gastrointestinal health.
World Microbiome Day
APC initiated the first ever World Microbiome Day in 2018. The theme for World Microbiome Day 2022 was "Celebration of The Microbial World". For full details see http://www.worldmicrobiomeday.com
The Language of Illness by Fergus Shanahan
Out now!
In this ground-breaking book, Dr Fergus Shanahan, looks at the ways in which language can act as a barrier with regard to illness, and proposes practical ways in which we can dismantle these barriers. Part manifesto, part memoir, and part instruction manual, the book is an appeal for the use of clearer, more holistic language, by all those involved with, and affected by, illness. It is a book for all those who care about caring. Order your copy from Liberties Press
Healthy Ireland at your Library
APC participates in the Healthy Ireland at your Library. For full details check out Cork County Library website
Medical/Patient
The aim of the Education and Public Engagement Programme is to engage patients, their families and the medical community in APC Microbiome Ireland research. We also inform the public about exciting new research findings in areas such as gastrointestinal health, probiotics, functional foods, and new therapeutic agents.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Book by Fergus Shanahan
Professor Fergus Shanahan, former APC Director and a gastroenterologist who has cared for IBD patients for 30 years, particularly encourages patients to get involved in their own care and to seek professional help to process the emotional and psychological aspects of an IBD diagnosis. He has recently written a new book for patients and their supporters which is full of useful information about diagnosis, treatment options and advice to stay healthy. The book “Inflammatory Bowel Disease – fast facts for patients and their supporters” is published by Karger and is now available to purchase online.
Crohn’s & Colitis Ireland (CCI)
APC engages with patients via Crohn's & Colitis Ireland (CCI), with whom it hosts a biannual Patient Open Day at Cork University Hospital.
World Digestive Health Day
World Digestive Health Day is celebrated on May 29th each year. This date, designated by the World Organisation of Gastroenterology (WGO), aims to fill the “knowledge gap” with regard to all aspects of gastroenterology and to bring the very latest information on these conditions to medical practitioners, other health care workers, patients and the general public. In the past, themes have focused on areas such as Health and Nutrition, Helicobacter pylori infection, Viral Hepatitis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
See our video on gut Health & Faecal Microbiota Transplantation for World Digestive Health Day 2014. The theme for World Digestive Health Day 2020 is the gut microbiome.
Clinical and Food Trials
The APC regularly conducts clinicial and food trials to investigate the potential benefit of probiotic bacteria to act as a natural alternative or supplement to conventional drug therapy, to treat gastrointestinal disorders such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
For further information please contact: Susan Rafferty-McArdle | Operations Manager | t: +353 (0)21-4901753
