GTAC Programs

This program is held at selected times during May. Country schools are encouraged to attend this program. Financial assistance is available. Our Laboratory Workshop offers Unit 3 VCE Biology students a unique opportunity to work in small groups with their own young research scientist as “mentor”. The learning environment is highly structured to ensure student participation and to facilitate dialogue. Students use research quality equipment, in a state of the art teaching laboratory. The pre-laboratory lecture supports student learning by introducing them to the biological concepts involved in the laboratory work and supports the consolidation of concepts in Unit 3 Biology.

This program developed in collaboration with VMRD Parkville gives Unit 3 students:

The opportunity to revisit their understanding of protein structure and in enzyme action
The importance of “shape” as the basis of molecular specificity
An introduction to the nature and function of the mammalian immune system and, in particular, the function of B lymphocytes and the structure and function of antibodies
The opportunity to distinguish between antibodies and antigens and carry out tasks that emphasise specificity in forming antibody-antigen complexes
The opportunity to explore the biological concepts of vaccination and acquired immunity

The opportunity to work with scientists and solve “real life” problems using research quality equipment. Students will (1) Investigate positive and negative responses to an infectious agent by a flocculation assay which visually demonstrates antibody-antigen interactions and (2) trace the course of an immune response to a vaccine exploring primary and secondary antibody responses through the use of an ELISA protocol

09.30 – 09.40	Arrival and Registration Students deposit school bags in cloakroom
09.40 – 10.20	Lecture
10.30– 10.55	Pre-Laboratory Lecture
10.55 – 11.15	Break
11.15 – 13.00	Laboratory Work
13.00 – 14.00	Lunch - University of Melbourne Campus - Home school supervision
14.00 – 14.45	Students complete laboratory tasks and interpret results
14.45 – 14.50	Evaluation and departure