MoGen Launches NextGen to Expand Outreach in Science Education

A Season Full of Outreach Events

Dedicated to making scientific education accessible, the Department of Molecular Genetics has made significant strides in promoting science education through recent outreach initiatives. These initiatives involve participating in and creating outreach programs to engage younger audiences and underrepresented communities. This recap highlights recent initiatives and their impact.

MoGen Launches NextGen

On April 29th, the department launched the first event of its new outreach program, nextGen, designed to bring science to younger audiences and diverse communities. In collaboration with the parents of middle schoolers at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School, the event featured workshops led by graduate students Ashley Campbell, who coordinated the day, Ryan Marks, Aisha Wada, and Victoria Taylor. Dr. Martina Steiner planned the sickle cell lab activities and delivered an educational lecture, giving students a taste of an actual undergraduate genetics class.

The activities that students participated in included:

• Educational lectures on genetics

• Hands-on lab activities, including pipetting, gel electrophoresis, and blood smear microscopy for sickle blood cells

• Career discussions with graduate students about their research and career paths

This event gave young students a platform to explore science. It also gave our graduate students invaluable teaching experience: they helped supervise the students and showcase research careers to the young participants.

More Collaborative Efforts

Faculty Graduate Fair

On July 27th, graduate volunteers Liliana Trajceska and Jocelyn Nurtanto took part in an info session hosted by Temerty Medicine for students in the SMP (Summer Mentorship Program) and STEAM-D programs. They shared insights about the department’s graduate programs: MSc/PhD in Molecular Genetics, Medical Genomics MSHc, and Genetic Counselling MSc. To attract attendees, Liliana and Jocelyn used a prize wheel with candy rewards, where students spun to learn fun facts about molecular genetics.

Working with STEAM-D, an outreach program at Temerty Faculty

In collaboration with the Office of Access and Outreach from the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, our graduate students hosted mentoring sessions with STEAM-D, a program geared for high school students from grades 10-12 from underrepresented backgrounds or who identify as experiencing socioeconomic barriers. These events allowed students to learn about our researchers' educational and work experiences, helping them better understand science careers and paths.

On July 28th, graduate students and faculty from molecular genetics met 50 high schoolers in STEAM-D. To kick off the event, Dr. Martina Steiner delivered an engaging presentation comparing the molecular world to micro and normal-sized objects, illustrating, for instance, how viruses compare in size to a human egg.

Following this compelling introduction, Dr. Steiner launched an interactive quiz using Mentimeter to test the student's knowledge of molecular genetics. With a competitive edge, the students eagerly answered the questions displayed on their phones, vying for a prize (a toque with the molecular genetics logo) awarded to the top scorer. The excitement and friendly competition made the learning experience both fun and educational.

After that, six researchers—Jhenielle Campbell, Sina Fateh, Ryan Marks, Ashley Campbell, Tyanna Supreme, and Victoria Taylor—shared their educational paths and scientific journeys. The session offered students a chance to ask our graduate students about their academic journeys and current research.

The MSc Genetic Counselling program also hosted two genetic counselling events at the Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning (PGCRL). Tamara Braid and Nishaat Misquita, genetic counsellors at SickKids, organized the events, along with Carlos Giraldo, a current genetic counselling student, and Riyana Babul-Hirji, who helped make them possible.

Throughout the day, students gained a practical understanding of genetic concepts. They navigated a simulated genetic counselling session, were taught how to draw their pedigree, and took part in a hands-on experiment to extract DNA from strawberries. They also got a tour of the genetic counselling students' workspace, which offered a window into the profession and its setting.

As we look to the future, we are excited about our department's continued impact and the potential for further collaborations with educators and community leaders. The sessions were successful and exciting. Teachers and participants expressed interest in future collaborations, suggesting that nextGen could become a key part of our outreach efforts.