Virus Factory in Schools

The three workshops are based around viruses and microbiology and use citizen science as a way to show your pupils that they are capable of making meaningful contributions to real research science and of going on to become research scientists. The workshops are designed using the science capital teaching approach.  

The overall structure of the workshop series is background science, citizen science, computing science and Q&A. The standalone workshop is a condensed version which covers less computing science and has less time spent on the participatory citizen science. It has no time built in for meeting a researcher and we suggest a follow up session to allow your pupils to do so.  

The background science uses your pupils’ knowledge of living things as its starting point and from there introduces cells, DNA and viruses while reinforcing skills such as observation, collaboration, communication and use of ICT as key scientific skills.  

The additional maths workshop uses the concepts and results of the main workshop/workshops as a way to practice statistics in a real-life context, helping students to understand how maths allows scientists to move from making observations of images to answering big questions.  

Full course materials, including an educator guide, are available for download on Zenodo here. The Virus Factory citizen science project page can be found here, and zoo-notes can be found here.  

Additionally, we have a limited number of physical resource packs to distribute. Sign-up to register for one of these packs here. These packs are the “alpha” version and we will prioritise teachers who are willing to deliver the workshops in the current school year, and those who will provide feedback so we can improve this pack in the future!   

If you have registered to participate in the Schools Days of Harwell Open Week 2024, please register your interest in version 2 of the physical resource pack here.  

Please note there is no requirement to have the physical resource packs in order to deliver the Virus Factory in Schools workshops. Online materials, including “print and play” files, can be found on Zenodo. 

We will be hosting the first Franklin researcher Q&A on Friday 19th July 2024. Details for how to register and submit questions will be published soon.  

The playlist contains 8 videos lasting between 2 and 5 minutes, taken from a series of interviews with researchers working at the Franklin and Diamond Light Source, recorded in February 2023. This forms an offline alternative to live Q&A options such as local STEM ambassadors, “I’m a Scientist” events, and the Franklin Q&A webinars. The playlist is hosted on the Science Scribbler YouTube, and the Franklin Vimeo.

Below is a curated list of external resources that we feel may be useful for the delivery of the workshops. 

• Free microscope kits for primary schools:  

• • https://www.rms.org.uk/outreach/microscope-activity-kits.html 

• Science Capital Teaching Approach resources:  

• • The Science Capital Teaching Approach 

• • The Primary Science Capital Teaching Approach: teacher handbook 

• Request STEM ambassador support for your school:  

• • https://www.stem.org.uk/stem-ambassadors/request-stem-ambassador 

• I’m a Scientist site for live text-based chats with scientists:  

• • https://imascientist.org.uk/ 

Contact Details

For questions, please contact the Science Scribbler team via email.

The Zooniverse in Schools team can also be reached by email here.   

You can also contact the team through the Talk Forums on the Zooniverse project page. 

Collaborating Institutes & Organisations

Diamond Light Source 

University of Oxford 

The Zooniverse 

Science and Technology Facilities Council 

Funded by

Wellcome Trust – Biomedical Resources Grant (212980/Z/18/Z)

STFC – Nucleus Award (ST/W001845/1)

STFC – Spark Award (ST/Y005813/1)