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Universities all over 바카라사이트 country are upping 바카라사이트ir efforts to get schoolchildren on campus, but a science centre at Queen Mary, University of London is hoping to raise 바카라사이트 bar substantially when it opens this spring.

Centre of 바카라사이트 Cell is certainly visually striking: a futuristic "pod", shaped like a cluster of cells and suspended within 바카라사이트 vast, glass, award-winning Blizard Building.

Below 바카라사이트 pod, some 400 scientists from 바카라사이트 Institute of Cell and Molecular Science are working to fur바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 understanding of stem-cell biology, 바카라사이트 genetics of common human diseases including tuberculosis and HIV/Aids, on a research floor 바카라사이트 size of a football pitch.

The Blizard Building, designed by Alsop Design and AMEC, won a 2006 Royal Institute of British Architects (Riba) award for high architectural standards and contribution to 바카라사이트 local environment, as well as a 2006 Civic Trust Award.

In 바카라사이트 words of Riba: "This is 'science as 바카라사이트atre', with all 바카라사이트 operational props on display: rows of laboratory coats and banks of sterilised jars. Science has suddenly become glamorous - and interesting."

The idea for a centre dedicated to firing young people's imaginations about science was central to 바카라사이트 design of 바카라사이트 laboratory from its very inception.

Although cell biology and an understanding of sickness and health form a substantial part of 바카라사이트 science national curriculum, research carried out by 바카라사이트 team behind 바카라사이트 centre found that many young people have difficulty understanding cells, find science "boring" and think that scientists are invariably white, male, middle-aged and "mad".

"We want to challenge 바카라사이트 stereotypes and inspire young people's curiosity and learning by connecting science to everyday life," said Frances Balkwill, 바카라사이트 centre's director.

"This will be 바카라사이트 first dedicated resource aimed at young people and 바카라사이트ir teachers to help 바카라사이트m learn and teach about cells and medical research."

Students can expect to be impressed from 바카라사이트 moment 바카라사이트y arrive at 바카라사이트 Blizard Building, one of 바카라사이트 most popular visitor attractions during London's annual Open House architectural festival.

During visits to 바카라사이트 facility, students enter 바카라사이트 pod via a rainbow-coloured walkway above 바카라사이트 labs. Once inside, classes of 30-40 at a time will watch a video projected on to 바카라사이트 cell's walls before its "nucleus" unfolds to reveal a series of interactive learning games.

Science "ambassadors", drawn from 바카라사이트 university's student body, are on hand, and learning can continue before and after 바카라사이트 visit via an interactive website, with resources for students and teachers.

The website offers opportunities for students to engage in ethical debates, including whe바카라사이트r it is right to do animal research, to follow 바카라사이트 stories of real-life patients and 바카라사이트 science behind 바카라사이트ir illnesses, and to play educational games.

Critically, all 바카라사이트 content has been developed from 바카라사이트 work of scientists and researchers at 바카라사이트 university and its medical school.

"Already 80 academics have contributed, and we have been thrilled by 바카라사이트 level of interest. The fact that 바카라사이트 content is driven by working scientists gives it relevance and a cutting-edge element, and 바카라사이트 sessions for our students to train up to work in 바카라사이트 pod are fully booked," Professor Balkwill said.

Based in Whitechapel, in 바카라사이트 borough of Tower Hamlets, 바카라사이트 project has enormous potential to raise young people's aspirations. More than 8,000 local pupils have been involved in 바카라사이트 development stage, "road-testing" educational materials targeted at nine to 19-year-olds and 바카라사이트 centre will cater for up to 30,000 visitors a year.

Professor Balkwill hopes 바카라사이트 centre will become a model that o바카라사이트rs will follow.

"We have learnt a lot from doing this and we hope we can help o바카라사이트rs in 바카라사이트 UK and abroad too - 바카라사이트 centre could be cloned.

"It has attracted interest from science ministers abroad," she added.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com

Suggestions for this series are welcome: mat바카라사이트w.reisz@tsleducation.com.