Cell EXPLORERS goes international!

“This is the best school outing ever!” exclaimed one of the Maltese school children clutching her tube of banana DNA at the end of a Cell EXPLORERS workshop at the NSTF Malta Science Expo. Cell EXPLORERS was the Irish science outreach representative group this year at the Expo, which ran from the 7th-11th April in the Maltese capital Valletta.

Cell EXPLORERS was thrilled to get the opportunity to bring their hands-on molecular biology activities to the Expo. A team of three scientists, led by programme director Dr. Muriel Grenon, travelled from NUI Galway to bring the ‘Fantastic DNA’ workshop to the primary school children of Malta. During the week, over 400 Maltese children performed banana DNA extractions with the Cell EXPLORERS team.

Expo organiser, Karl Agius, was pleased with the performance of Cell EXPLORERS at the event: “Cell EXPLORERS have continued to improve the quality and reach of the NSTF Science Expo through their workshop. Thanks to their enthusiasm and communication skills, they excited and motivated the kids to the wonders and realities of science and imbued in them the wish to know more.”

Dr. Grenon was also delighted with the positive response of the Maltese children and teachers to the workshop: "It is incredible to see that the hands on science lesson designed by NUI Galway Cell EXPLORERS undergraduate students works as well in Malta than in Ireland. We have met a lot of interest among teachers, students and lecturers, and initiated collaborations which should allow the Cell EXPLORERS model to develop further away than Ireland".