ABE program Harbin off-site teaching activities successfully concluded
ABE program Harbin off-site teaching activities successfully concluded
Since its inception, the CLS has taken the initiative to undertake public affairs and public education, aiming to raise the level of science awareness and scientific spirit of the whole society. In addition to sharing the latest research achievements of the Life Center, the CLS is introducing a global hands-on experimental science project, Amgen Biotech Experience ("ABE"), in 2021.
In January 2023, the sixth ABE training program was successfully conducted in cooperation with the College of Life Sciences and Technology of Harbin Normal University (hereinafter referred to as "HNU"). The Life Center and the Modern Life Science Experimental Teaching Center of Tsinghua University (hereinafter referred to as the "Experimental Teaching Center") were responsible for developing and formulating the teaching program and providing the teachers, while HNU's Academy of Biological Sciences provided the training laboratory space and facilities and equipment. Twenty-nine high school students and one local high school biology teacher from nine high schools in Heilongjiang Province, including Hassan Middle School, Shidai Middle School, Deqiang Middle School, and Tiren Middle School, participated in this three-day experimental experience.
On the morning of January 11, the opening ceremony was held in 423, Science and Technology Building No. 3, Songbei Campus of HUST, and Pan Xuming, Vice President of HUST Academy of Biological Sciences, presided over the opening ceremony. First of all, Liu Yan, Dean of HUST Academy of Biological Sciences, made a speech, saying that HUST has been committed to cultivating talents in basic education since its establishment in 1951, and he was especially happy to have the opportunity to serve high school students this time. He hoped that the activity could ignite students' love for biology and they could become leaders in the field of biology in the future, and wished the activity went well. Jiang Yi, Director of the CLS Office, then introduced the original purpose of the ABE project in the light of the motto of Tsinghua University, "Self-improvement and Virtue", as well as two examples to introduce the process from basic research to drug development. technology. Finally, Zhang Qingling, the leading coach of Heilongjiang Biology Olympiad, gave a speech to thank the Tsinghua University team and HUST's Academy of Biological Sciences for giving this rare learning opportunity and hoped that the students would study carefully with a grateful heart.
Group photo of event staff
After the opening ceremony, Dr. Yignzi Cui, an outstanding postdoctoral fellow of the Life Center, led the students as a lecturer in the course, including experimental operations such as plasmid extraction, electrophoresis detection, enzymatic digestion, ligation, E. coli transformation, PCR technology, and other interesting small experiments such as drawing fluorescent bacteria. In addition, Dr. Cui also introduced the development and application of novel coronaviruses and new coronaviruses in China with his own virology research background, and dialectically discussed the development of gene editing tools and the changes they have triggered in disease treatment. The course also invited researcher Chen Feng from Peking University Stomatology Hospital and post-doc Li Yaoxi from Experimental Teaching Center to present "From Bioscience to Medicine - My Study and Research Experience" and "Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation in Cells" respectively. The lectures on the frontiers of life science, "The perfect integration of biology, physics and chemistry", introduced students to what is currently being done in cutting-edge research from different research aspects, and to experience the charm of scientific research. Teaching team members Cai-Ping Ma, Ying-Zi Li and Yao-Xi Li participated in this event.
Dr. Cui is teaching
At the closing ceremony in the afternoon of January 13, Dr. Cui led the students to do the experiment summary, and gave recognition to the students for their positive thinking and successful completion of the experiment, and encouraged them to explore and look forward to meeting with them at Tsinghua University. Prof. Zhang Guiyou, the invited representative of ABE project and former director of Tsinghua University Experimental Teaching Center, made a concluding speech, and expressed his hope that the students would set up ambitious aspirations and be a "big-picture" person. "Finally, he wished the students a good future and looked forward to seeing them in the life science field in the future!
Zhang Guiyou in his speech
This activity is the second off-site teaching of the project, developing new cities, expanding the map of activities, and laying a solid foundation for better public welfare science services for the community.
(Translated by Deepl)