ASE 2027 Annual Conference

Embark on a hands-on adventure and join marine biologists in their quest to uncover the mystery of Luna's father! Meet Luna, an adorable whale calf,  and become part of a passionate team determined to solve this heart-warming puzzle using gel electrophoresis and DNA fingerprinting.

In this session participants will engage in experiments which are conducted solely in a plastic pipette. We will do four experiments on kinetics, equilibrium and extraction.

Participants will measure with and combine different compounds in a pipette and they will observe changes inside the pipette bulb. Our aim is to showcase an easy method to do popular practicals at a lower cost, both timewise and financially. Participants will be left with experiments that work and can be directly applied in their classroom in the same week if they wish. My interest in microscale practicals is born out of necessity - in my country labs are greatly lacking.

In the last 10 or so years I teach teachers in microscale methods and try new experiments in my classroom. In the last few years I work closely with colleagues from UK (school teachers and CLEAPSS) to develop new experiments.

PLEASE NOTE THIS SESSION HAS A MAXIMUM CAPACITY OF 24 - on a first-come, first-served basis on the day (Sched is not used for pre-booking.)

Plants are one of the most versatile and accessible model systems in science education — bridging the gap between the macro world students can see and the molecular world that drives it. Anthocyanins, the powerful antioxidants behind the rich colours of grapes, blueberries, and purple cabbage, offer a stunning entry point into both cell biology and genetics — and they're hiding in plain sight.

This two-part session takes you on a journey from plant to pipette. Beginning with phenotype, you'll learn how to reliably germinate rapid cycling brassica seeds to cotyledons in as little as 72 hours — giving your students visible, measurable results within a single school week. From there, we'll connect what students can observe with their own eyes to the molecular evidence beneath the surface.

In this first session, we'll walk you through the full workflow: scoring plants based on their phenotypic purple pigmentation, performing a DNA extraction, and preparing samples for PCR of the anthocyanin/anthocyaninless genetic marker. By the end, you'll have the confidence and the practical know-how to bring authentic plant molecular biology into your classroom.

All delegates participating in Part 1, are welcome to join the Embitec team for tea/coffee and cakes during the break, before Part 2 commences.

PLEASE NOTE THIS SESSION HAS A MAXIMUM CAPACITY OF 24 - on a first-come, first-served basis on the day (Sched is not used for pre-booking.)

Plants are an ideal model system to teach macro and molecular levels of biology. Anthrocyanins are powerful antioxidants found in many of our favourite produce, including grapes, blueberries and purple cabbage.

In this second session, the molecular evidence comes to life. Taking the PCR products prepared in Part 1, you'll load and run your samples on the MiniOne Electrophoresis System — visualising the DNA banding patterns that reveal the genotype of each plant. Within minutes, the gel tells the story: which plants carry two functional copies of the anthocyanin gene, which carry one, and which carry none.

With results in hand, the real scientific thinking begins. Students will compare their molecular data directly against the phenotypes they scored in Part 1 — connecting the visible purple or green pigmentation of each plant to the genetic evidence on the gel. It's a genuine eureka moment: the bridge between what students can see and what the DNA reveals.

This session brings Mendelian genetics off the page and into the lab in the most tangible way possible. Dominant and recessive alleles are no longer abstract concepts — they are visible bands on a gel, matched to living plants sitting right in front of your students.

Join us on this hands-on workshop where we will unlock the secrets of Sickle Cell Disease.

We will explore the genetics of sickle cell disease and genetic testing.

Extend the narrative by becoming medical geneticists conducting newborn screenings for SCD to determine disease inheritance and susceptibility. We can wrap up with modern therapies now available for SCD.

The ASE H&S Group is delighted to run a demonstration workshop for science teachers that shows a range of exciting and eye-catching practical activities, but often thought to be banned or restricted owing to the risks if the activities are carried out wrongly. These demonstrations are great for helping students understand science and get excited about it.

This session will focus on how to undertake these activities to inspire students, and how to do them safely by planning carefully and following the proper safety precautions. It is about using risk assessment as an enabling tool, not a barrier.