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Activities
EMBO's commitment to science education
" Scientific research profits enormously from international collaboration, exchange and competition; science education must also have this opportunity "

The benefits of internationality in scientific research are equally valid in science education, especially as Europe becomes more united at the level of training and qualifications, and promotes the movement of labour forces. EMBO's Science & Society Programme offers teachers in secondary education workshops where they can learn molecular biology, and benefit from exchanges of resources, experience and best practice at international level. Through its network of scientists, educators and teachers, EMBO can strengthen links between research and the creative disseminators who communicate it to the next generation of young minds.

In 2003/2004 EMBO was the co-ordinator of the EU-funded project Continuing Education for European Biology Teachers (CEEBT), which included the EMBO practical workshops for science teachers.

From School to University

5th international workshop on secondary school biology education

11–13 May 2006, EMBL, Heidelberg, Germany

Organised by the European Molecular Biology Organization, with practical experiments organised by the European Learning Lab for the Life Sciences (EMBL), and Explo-Heidelberg

This time we are focusing mainly on the critical transition from secondary school to university. The questions are: what knowledge and skills do school-leavers need in order to embark on a university degree in the biosciences, and later turn into good researchers? What knowledge do they have to have, and more importantly, what analytical thinking must they develop at school?

60 teachers will be accepted

Registration free of charge

Accommodation costs for two nights, food and drinks are covered by EMBO

Workshop draft plan

Thursday 11 May
14:00 Workshop starts
Keynote scientific talk 1

Session I:

Student performance and expectations: the European landscape and the expectations of universities; student’s career expectations
* Including presentations and discussion with key figures from the PISA study, academic science

Exhibition viewing
Workshop banquet

Friday 12 May
09:00 Keynote scientific talk 2

Session II:

Responding to demands and culturing curiosity: Curriculum design, teaching plans, teaching methods
* Including presentations and discussion with prominent figures in the modernisation of curricula, school science and extra-curricular science education

Exhibition viewing and lunch

Session III:

Putting it into practice: best examples, and positive developments in teaching and teacher training
* Including presentations and discussion with creators of successful initiatives, projects and services

Free evening

Saturday 13 May
09:00 Practical experiments for teachers organised by the ELLS at EMBL and Explo-Heidelberg

Teachers divide into 2 groups for practical hands-on experiments at EMBL and Explo-Heidelberg.

Practical information

Location
The workshop will take place at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 96117 Heidelberg, Germany.
How to get to Heidelberg and to EMBO/EMBL

Accommodation
For teachers coming from outside the region we have reserved single and double rooms at the IBIS Hotel in Heidelberg, but they will have to send their accommodation details directly to the hotel. Address:

IBIS Hotel
Willy-Brandt-Platz 3 (next to the main train station)
D-69115 Heidelberg
Telefon:+49 (0)6221-9130
Fax: +49 (0)6221-913300
Email: h1447@accor.com
www.accorhotels.com/ibis_heidelberg.htm

Note
Please give the reference "EMBO" when you do your booking. The deadline for booking is 11 April, 2006. To save costs, participants are encouraged to share rooms.
PLEASE WAIT UNTIL YOU RECEIVE A CONFIRMATION OF ATTENDANCE FROM US BEFORE BOOKING YOUR ACCOMMODATION.

EMBO will cover accommodation costs for teachers only for the nights of the 11 and the 12 May. The hotel will charge the participants for any extra night.

Transport
A bus - free of charge - will transport all participants from the hotel to the EMBL in the morning and back in the evening.