Mobile Bioclass

The goal of the Mobile bioclass is to introduce life sciences for schoolchildren and to increase their interest in biotechnology and related disciplines. 

The project popularizes science by introducing contemporary methods of DNA analysis to students giving them the opportunity to work with modern lab equipment and to raise awareness in the fields of molecular biology and gene technology.

During this project the mobile lab will travel across Estonia and visit different schools. 

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Rändava bioklassi logo

The target group for the Mobile bioclass are students from grades 10-12.  

In Estonia the project started in 2013 and has travelled more than 75 000 kilometers. 

The Mobile bioclass is Tartu University's joint project with biotechnology company Thermo Fisher Scientific. In 2011 the first mobile class started in Lithuania, the project later expanded to other Baltic States. 

  • The aim of the project is to popularize science to students by introducing contemporary methods of DNA analysis and to give them the  opportunity to work with modern lab equipment.
     
  • During a school visit different experiments for 24 students are organized. The practical training lasts about 4 hours for students, with opportunities for breaks. This time is supplemented by the preparation of the class and the subsequent cleaning and packing of the class, which takes about one hour. Thus, the duration of one school visit would be 5-6 hours.  
  • The project will be carried out by the students of the University of Tartu and Biosciences' Students Association who will receive the necessary training and on whose basis the project team will be formed. Students work for this project free of charge.

  • The school visit begins with furnishing of the laboratory. All necessary equipment will be transported to the school in containers, and after unpacking, the workplaces will be furnished for six groups of four students. Thus, 24 students can participate at a time. All six groups are equipped with the same tools and hardware. Each group has its own instructor, who assists and advises in carrying out the experiments and from whom it is possible to ask for additional information immediately if problems arise. In addition to the group tutors, one or two more experienced students participate, whose task is to lead the lecture part.

  • The lecture part starts with an introduction, during which the project and its goals are discussed. The practical part begins with learning how to pipette, followed by a competition. Then we introduce DNA - students are explained how to measure the amount of DNA and how to precipitate DNA. Then a lecture and practical part will follow on how certain regions of DNA of interest can be amplified during a PCR reaction. Practical work continues with the analysis of the results of the PCR reaction by agarose gel electrophoresis. Finally, there is a summary of the work done, during which students can ask questions about the different experiments and their parts. 
     
  • After the students leave, the desks are cleaned, the equipment and supplies are packed, and the class is set up in the same order as before. All the trash generated during the work is packed, taken away and disposed of in Tartu according to the prescribed procedure.
     
  • The apparatuses and small lab equipment is provided by Thermo Fischer Scientific.
     
  • The visit is free of charge for the school.
     
  • The class covers all Estonian counties.
  • Preference will be given to schools that are further away from larger centers.  
     

 

 

Several people throughout the years have coordinated the project. 

Main Coordinator - Professor Ants Kurg

Coordinators:
Marcella Laura Polverino
Katariina Kordemets
Andres Reintam
Jana Aid
Lee Vaalma
Robin Pau
Margret Alttoa
Nils Joonas Kristian Saar
Anett-Hildegard Laarmann
Indrek Etverk
Karl Annusver

Laboratory specialists:
Merle Külaots
Kati Hensen

The financies and support to the project has come from different organisations:

Thermo Fisher Scientific Baltics
University of Tartu
Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu
Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Tartu
Bioscience Students' Association
Gambling Tax Council
Estonian Research Agency
Archimedes Foundation

Tudengid panevad kooliõpilasi katseid tegema (in Estonian)
November 2022 number 5 ajakiri Universitas Tartuensis veebiversioon (longer article)
June 2022 number 3 ajakiri Universitas Tartuensis (page 42, start of the article)

 

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Riiklikult tunnustatud teaduse populariseerija logo 2017

In 2017 the Mobile bioclass was awarded with the Estonian science popularization main prize in the series of activities that promote science and technology. The project has the right to use the logo of "Nationally Recognized Science Popularizer".

Geneetika õppepäev, 22.03.2024

Genetics Workshops brought hundreds of students to Tartu

Facilities and equipment

This page contains the most important research equipment in our institute in alphabetical order
Geneetika õppepäev

Genetics Workshops

Genetics Workshop is a practical Study Day organized by the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) for upper secondary school students,