Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Work Hours
Monday to Friday: 7AM - 7PM
Weekend: 10AM - 5PM
ABOUT THE COURSE
Unboxing CRISPR
for transdisciplinary learning
About
About the course and requirements
The Unboxing CRISPR: for transdisciplinary learning is a pilot proposal for a course/ module/ curricular unit for higher education aiming to explore CRISPR-Cas9 technologies in a multidisciplinary context, that should include art, design, and humanities students. This pilot course was developed during Hybrid Lab Network activities, and it was tested with students, teachers, and lay people from different countries and backgrounds.
The Hybrid Lab Network is/was a multidisciplinary experimentation project that intermingled participants from i3S, Aalto, Alma Mater, and Wagg, mobilizing different STEAM (Science, Technology, Arts, and Maths) areas of knowledge to collectively develop teaching/learning offers able to promote, among others dialogue and participatory problem-solving skills, as well as critical thinking applied to emergent biotechnologies.
CRISPR-Cas9 is one of the most emergent technologies that has revolutionized science and medicine and it is catching the attention of different fields. The power of the technology by itself, but mostly the imagery that emerges from the “gene editing” concept, shapes narratives that are being explored in the arts and humanities. Thus, it became clear the demand for a training offer that could gather explanations, hands-on activities, and speculative explorations of these “gene editing” technologies.
It should be highlighted that the implementation of this course requires some advanced expertise in biotechnology. Supervision and guidance should be given by expert instructors or researchers in the field to ensure a correct understanding of the theoretical concepts and to support the rigorous performance of hands-on activities, especially the biotechnology techniques related to gene editing.
Furthermore, appropriate facilities are required to provide basic equipment and supplies for molecular biology practical work. Also, correct performance of practical sessions requires previous planning and provision of all the necessary materials, reagents, and biological materials.
This course uses hybrid training methodologies that range from lectures, laboratory work sessions, and creative activities, to collective debates. The experimental lab work is embedded in theoretical lecture parts that provide the background of CRISPR-Cas9. A combination of lectures and laboratory classes provides a basic understanding of the CRISPR-Cas9 System and discussion of potential applications and further exploration of the theme. The course module is designed for HEIs students.
