International Conference
on Education - 2001

Sciences

USA

 
 

Scientific progress and science teaching:
Basic knowledge, interdisciplinary and ethical issues

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Genetic Science Learning Centre

State of UTAH, USA

The University of UTAH (collaboration between the Departments of Medicine, Human Genetics and Education) is presenting a website called "Genetic Science Learning Centre" which aims at helping people understand how genetics affect our lives and society. The website has special sections designed for teachers, students and teenagers and parents and families. The section "Genetics in Society" helps people to understand the ethic side of genetic science and hopes to provide them with tools to make better choices as citizens in this specific field.

The website is divided into four sections or topics: Basic Genetics, Genetic Disorders, Genetics in Society and Genetic Thematic Units. Many themes are discussed and explained within the topic sections such as : What can our chromosomes tell us?, What is DNA?, What is a clone?, Ethical concerns about cloning: Are humans next?, etc.

If they want to interact well with the world they are living in, "Genetics in Society and its ethical concerns" are expected to be well understood by future citizens. Education programs about this matter are starting to appear, even though it is still really difficult to find them in schools. The new websites such as "Genetic Science Learning Centre" can help teachers and parents select the subjects that are relevant for the youth and bring the issues to their attention. It would be also possible for the teenagers themselves to visit the site and learn about issues that affect our world and that will affect it more and more, we assume, in the coming years.

University of UTAH, Department of Human Genetics, Education and Medecine.
Website: http://gslc.genetics.utah.edu

Institutional Partners
Utah Museum of Natural History

2001

See the "links" section of our website for more projects of the kind (Theme 5: "Scientific progress and science teaching: basic knowledge, interdisciplinarity and ethical issues".)