Byte-sized bioinformatics: bringing computational biology to schools

Computational science, computational thinking and Big Data are critical skills for the future. They provide career development opportunities, an ability to conduct and support internationally competitive research, and are a keystone to future economic growth and security. These subjects are typically taught within university science programmes. But for rapid progress, social inclusion and public understanding, acquiring these skills must be integrated at much earlier stages in education.

Bioinformatics (computational biology) provides an excellent means to allow young people to gain computational skills and to demonstrate the pervasive relevance of computational science today. Computational thinking - and many computational skills - are transferable across Big Data and STEM including computer science, physics, astronomy, chemistry, statistics and applied mathematics. Bioinformatics underpins current and future progress in medicine, agriculture and environmental research, and many STFC science and technology projects have a bioinformatics component.

In Scotland, an important leap forward has been made with the new Curriculum for Excellence for Higher Biology and Higher Human Biology curricula, which explicitly include bioinformatics. However, the topic is almost always taught without a practical component, and may be seen as distant from practice in schools. In reality, practical bioinformatics can be easily accessible to schools - requiring only free software and an Internet connection to access exactly the same tools, data and environment as used professionally.

Our aim is to directly impact and improve bioinformatics teaching in at least 50% of secondary schools in Scotland that currently teach biology at sixth-form level. We will deliver, develop and share whole-class activities in bioinformatics across Scottish schools for students of Higher Biology, Higher Human Biology and Advanced Higher Biology, and continuing professional development (CPD) for teachers in Scotland. Priorities will include schools remote from major centres of STEM activity, and schools with low progression rates to university.

This project follows a successful pilot project funded via the University of Edinburgh. Teacher feedback from the pilot includes 'I will make use of the resources provided to train the other members of the Biology department so this workshop can be delivered to all Higher pupils. It will become embedded in the curriculum', and 'Allows pupils to see how what they are learning about is relevant outside the classroom'. Student feedback from the pilot includes 'Introduced us to programming and new biology, at once', 'We were able to see how computing can be used in ways I didn't think about before', and 'Opened my mind to the course'.

Whole-class activities in bioinformatics for biology students reach an almost entirely new audience for scientific computation, and off-set the strong male gender bias associated with computer science. Our whole-class activities have extensive advantages for diversity and inclusion. Our workshops will give a taste of practical university-level activities, link topics within the Biology curriculum and across Biology and computing, and increase understanding of computation. Showcasing actual case studies of STFC research with a bioinformatics component will give students a better understanding of STFC science and technology, and will reveal links to their daily lives.

We will leave Scottish teachers self-sufficient in bioinformatics, and we will leave pupils with a better understanding of bioinformatics and an awareness of the central role of computational science in modern research, industry and society. The materials that we will develop will be made freely available to all, online.