About GTAC

A SHORT HISTORY

In 1995, Professor Suzanne Cory and her colleagues at The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI) ran a pilot DNA science course at WEHI for Year 12 University High School biology students, inspired by a visit the previous year to the Dolan DNA Learning Centre of the Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory, New York.

Encouraged by the enthusiastic response of the students, Professor Cory teamed up with Professor Jim Pittard from the Microbiology and Immunology Department of the University of Melbourne and in 1996 they initiated a week-long DNA Science Summer Workshop for secondary school teachers to update their knowledge of DNA science. These workshops included an advanced laboratory course and lectures from leading Australian research scientists on major contemporary biology issues. A website was established to provide teachers with access to useful DNA science education tools and programs. Over the 5 years, a total of 178 teachers from government and private schools graduated, nearly half of whom were from regional and country Victoria and some from interstate.

During this period, two of the microbiologists leading the DNA Science course, Professor Dick Strugnell and Dr Judyta Praeskier conducted a pilot laboratory course in selected schools to introduce senior students to basic DNA manipulation techniques.

In 2000, following discussions with the Principal of University High School, Ms Bronwyn Valente, and Mr Brian Stevenson, then Head of the Senior School, a partnership was established under the Department of Education’s Science in Schools Strategy between WEHI, the Microbiology and Immunology Department and The University High School to broaden the program and make them accessible to all Victorian students and teachers. GTAC was born.

For the next four years, the program operated from the biology laboratory at University High School on Wednesdays and Thursdays. In this period over 1000 teachers and pre-service teachers attended various Professional Development sessions and over 5000 students from Victorian secondary schools attended laboratory workshops. The highly acclaimed GTAC learning environment was established whereby school students work in small groups with PhD students as “mentors”, using research quality equipment.

In May 2000, the Victorian Government announced a major grant to build a Centre for GTAC on the campus of University High School. Construction commenced in January 2003. The Centre was completed in April 2004 and the first students attended a laboratory workshop on the 20th April. The design of the Centre reflects the various learning cultures that make up the GTAC partnership. The focus is on flexibility and venues that are multifunctional. Symbolic design features remind the visitor that the Centre is about biology at the molecular level and, in particular, about DNA.

Approximately 250 secondary students attend the Centre each fortnight for a laboratory workshop. The demand for all programs is high and school visits are booked a year in advance. The Centre will allow for current programs to evolve and for new programs to be initiated.

 

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