ABU DHABI // Science teachers in the UAE said the Genes in Space competition would capture their pupils’ imaginations by involving them in the practical application of science.
With the incentive of creating a DNA experiment that could be taken on to the International Space Station to be conducted by an astronaut, it would be easy to captivate students, the high school teachers said.
The Genes in Space competition – part of The National Space Programme that was launched on Tuesday – challenges high school pupils to design a DNA amplification experiment that can take advantage of the environment the International Space Station offers, such as microgravity and exposure to cosmic radiation.
“Any time we get a chance to do hands-on experiments and offer real-world examples, it brings out the best in pupils,” said Devone Anderson, a science teacher at the Canadian International School in Abu Dhabi.
The competition is a perfect fit for his pupils, he said, because they already learn about DNA and space as part of the school curriculum. “It will be easy to amalgamate the competition into our programme,” he said.
Ahmad Al Zaben, a biology teacher at Al Rowad school in Al Wathba, said competitions were a fabulous tool to get pupils excited.
“You would be amazed at the ideas and the excitement of students when they are involved with hand-on competitions like this one,” said the 30-year-old Jordanian who participated in Tech Quest – an initiative that introduced pupils to science, technology, engineering and maths subjects – last year.
He said the competition offered pupils a good opportunity to use state-of-the-art equipment in the sciences at university level.
Monique Shenefield managed the space academy programme at Al Mizhar American Academy for girls. As part of the programme, two groups of 15 Emirati pupils got to go to Singapore for space training courses this year. Ms Shenefield said the Genes in Space competition would help keep pupils’ interest in science during later grades.
“We notice the students’ interest in the physical sciences lessening as they get older, focusing on life sciences instead – so this is a great contest to grab their interest while they’re younger and hopefully keep it with them.”
Ms Shenefield said that the prospects of projects being sent into space would hugely motivate pupils.
“As Emiratis it would be a huge source of pride to be able to represent their country in this way,” she said.
When Sekkie van Eeden, the head of the science department at Cambridge High School, told one of his biology teachers about the contest he said she could barely contain herself.
“Usually when the teacher is that excited the students will get pretty excited about it too,” he said.
However, he did warn about overloading teachers with competitions. “From a teacher’s point of view putting the extra hours in after school can be exhausting and burn them out,” he said.
Submissions are now being accepted for Genes in Space from pupils in Grades 7 to 12 at genesinspace.org with the deadline being February 3 next year.
To find out more and get involved follow #theuaespacestory on social media.
tsubaihi@thenational.ae