The young scientists of tomorrow in a workshop for today

Students and demonstrator at the workshop

‘A Question of Taste’ is a molecular biology and evolution workshop for students aged 16+.  At Nowgen, instead of using public engagement specialists, the workshop is led primarily by PhD students, helping make the workshop more ‘authentic’ and providing a platform for young scientists to engage with school students.

Here, four researchers from The University of Manchester share their thoughts on why they think it’s good to engage.

The day begins at 10am with the students arriving at The Nowgen Centre. After students have signed in and put away their coats and bags, lab coats are donned and the fun begins!

The first part of the day (and possible highlight) involves the taste test: each student tastes two strips of paper, one control and one coated in phenylthiocarbamide (PTC). PTC tastes bitter to some people yet is tasteless to others; this differing response frames the day’s engaging practical activities and discussions.  After some bemused looks from ‘non-tasters’, smugness ensues once their ‘taster’ classmates discover their unpleasantly bitter perception of PTC. After the taste test, students extract DNA from their cheek cells, which they then use in a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) to make millions of copies of part of their TAS2R38 gene. These millions of gene fragments are then chopped into smaller pieces using a restriction digest. Finally, they pass their samples through an agarose gel using electrophoresis, which separates the DNA pieces out by size, allowing the students to visualise their genotypes. All this lab work is interspersed with discussions about contemporary genetics research, genotype, phenotype, and evolution.

Presenting a workshop for students with an interest in science is a great chance to open their eyes to the fascinating world of molecular biology – particularly as they are at a pivotal point in choosing the direction of their future careers.  They further their understanding of complex areas that are on their exam specifications, gain something topical to discuss in university interviews and, hopefully, come around to the view that science can be an exciting and rewarding career path. All that said, more than anything they seem to enjoy using equipment they haven’t seen before, particularly micropipettes! They leave the workshop smiling after an exciting day, having learnt about ongoing research and, perhaps best of all, about their own DNA.

For us, presenting the workshop is exciting for several reasons; not least, the responsibility of scientists funded by the taxpayer to engage with the public. From a personal point of view, it is a chance to share a few pearls of wisdom about careers in biomedical sciences that we would have been liked to have known at school. It also develops our teaching and communication skills, building our confidence with public speaking – after facing a roomful of teenagers, presenting research findings at a conference does not seem quite so daunting! However, perhaps the most important thing gained is a renewed motivation for our own research. Hearing students enthusiastically discuss the potential of genetic research is a fantastic reminder of why we chose further study. It’s also a great chance to dispel the myth of the (probably male), crazy-haired, wild-eyed mad scientist!

Emma Harvey – 3rd year PhD student, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester
Francesca Liuzzi – 4th year intercalating medical student, University of Manchester
Lucy O’Connor – 4th year intercalating medical student, University of Manchester
Jessica Rowley – 3rd year PhD student, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester

For more information about Nowgen’s educational activities, please email Dr Matthew Hickman, Education Project Manager.