Our goals in Biological Sciences are:

• To promote a greater understanding of the role and importance of Biology in society.

• To encourage prospective students, regardless of age, sex, gender, religious or ethnic background, to study Biology at UCL.

• To diversify the profile of undergraduate and postgraduate students enrolling and successfully graduating from Biological Sciences at UCL, particularly students from under-represented groups (including: students from certain socio-economic groups and low-participation neighbourhoods, students with disabilities, mature students and ethnic minority students).

What do we do and who does it?

We are achieving our goals in a number of ways: visits to Biological Sciences by school groups, lectures from members of our staff, hosting work experience students, open days and workshops. Below are some examples of the sorts of activities we do...

• Professor Steve Jones (right) is one of Biological Sciences most active proponents of widening participation. He is involved in the CANDI (City and Islington College in Angel, North London) partnership and is the UCL representative on the management board of London’s Science Learning Centre (SLC). The latter organisation is part of a national network of Science Learning Centres, which seek to inspire, inform and stimulate scientific discussion between teachers, scientists and industry.

• The Baytree Science Club: Dr’s Astrid Wingler, Brigitte Meunier and Ann Need help organise The Baytree Science Club. This offers after-school science workshops for 8-11 year old girls from ethnic minority backgrounds in Brixton.

Images: Girls at the Baytree Science Club studying microbiology.

• The Knowledge Dissemination Unit: Professor Sue Povey is Co-Director of the Knowledge Dissemination Unit, which is part of, "The London Ideas Genetics Knowledge Park." This seeks to bring the benefits of genetics to everyone. The organisation offers resources for school pupils and teachers, information for the general public and advice about careers in genetics.

• Year 9 Students from the Heathland School in Houndslow and St. Gregory's High School in Brent were given an insight into DNA profiling thanks to Dr. Mark Thomas. As part of the Crime Scene Investigation Masterclass, a forensic science outreach programme at UCL, Dr. Thomas delivered a fascinating lecture on the nature of DNA and its use in a criminal investigation. Students were captivated as they learned how scientists read the biological code to bring criminals to justice.

The Grant Museum of Zoology is Biological Sciences historical teaching collection. TheMuseum has an active Education and Outreach Programme offering:

• Museum based hands on sessions for Key Stage 2, 3, 4, A Level, students in further education and adult learners.

• Summer Schools and Taster Days.

• An Animals loan box, comprising 16 zoological specimens plus teacher pack containing Key Stage 2 and 3 activities on food chains, classification, skeletons and moving.

• An Art Loan Box containing a range of animal specimens plus teachers pack with lesson plans and schemes of work to support A’Level and BTEC art students.

Recent widening participation activities include:

• Summer Schools and Workshops

• 16 and 17 year old BTEC students from NewVic Sixth Form College recently displayed artworks inspired by the Grant Museum collections at a private view held in UCL Cloisters.

• National Science Week: GCSE and A’Level arts students visited the Grant Museum during National Science Week to participate in a series of ‘Science in Art’ workshops. The workshops explored the methods and practice of scientific illustration, providing practical sessions based around the Museum’s zoological collections. Students had the opportunity to discuss career opportunities with the workshop leader, Jane Sandoe, and see her portfolio. The workshops also included a talk from the Museum’s Curator about the collections and the University, including an introduction to studying in universities.

What the students and teachers said:

Lana, a year 10 pupil studying GCSE Art at La Sainte Union School in Camden, said “I learnt lots about animals and new drawing techniques such as line, 3-D and shading skills. It was really different coming to the Grant Museum – I’ve never been to a place like this to draw. Also, my visit has encouraged me to come to university in the future to study either art or law."

"The visit gave me the feel of how it is and what this university has to offer" year 10 pupil from La Sainte Union School.

"I have always wanted to go to university, but this has pushed my confidence more" year 10 pupil from Maria Fidelis School in London.

Peter McKenna (Head of Art at La Sainte Union School in Camden) said, "What’s good about a visit like this is that it gets the students outside the school environment and in close proximity to objects they don’t normally get a chance to see, except in books. It’s also a good opportunity for a period of intensive drawing, rather than just the half hour or one hour lessons they get at school. Another plus of the course is the chance to learn new techniques and hear about possible career paths."

To find out more about the Grant Museum’s Education and Outreach Programme contact:

The Curator, Email: zoology.museum@ucl.ac.uk, Tel: 020 7679 2647