UWA MicroBlitz | Community organisation

UWA MicroBlitz

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24.01.2022 Some advice: keep the flame of curiosity and wonderment alive, even when studying for boring exams. That is the well from which we scientists draw our nourishment and energy. And also, learn the math. Math is the language of nature, so we have to learn this language. Michio Kaku

23.01.2022 To mark the end of the 2-week lab intensive program generously offered by The University of Western Australia Microblitz and The Marshall Centre wed like to tell you about what we have learned. Initially, I found it challenging to correctly execute certain lab techniques. I held and used instruments especially a micro pipette for the first time! However, I am truly grateful to experience these obstacles as they later, became opportunities for me to gain more skills, knowle...dge and resilience. It was certainly a privilege to learn from Benjamin Moreira Grez, Alfred Chin Yen Tay, and Binit Lamichhane. From Ben, I learned the techniques used to discover the ubiquity and diversity of microbes found in soil. Also, how such information is used in understanding the health of our soil which largely affects agricultural produce, particularly the food we eat. From Alfred and Binit, I gain a better understanding of the bacteria, Helicobacter pylori. It was interesting to learn that having H. pylori causes ulcers (not stress!) and can also be used to trace migration patterns of early hominins. Ive truly learned a lot from this internship and I am looking forward to work with Jacqueline, Wendy O, Phoebe Henning, Claire Chua, Wafa Shrudin, Grace Mukomberanwa, Shaaruna Selvasegaren in the upcoming outreach.

23.01.2022 FOLD IT! Helping to save lives from your lounge room!

23.01.2022 Yay! These will be delivered when Professor Andy Whiteley joins our interns for lunch on Monday.

22.01.2022 Next up is Nick: Nick has always been fascinated by the rural and metro area school differences. The impact of attending a rural school and his love for science drew him to study a Bachelor of Biomedical Science majoring in medical science, and to apply for the Barry Marshall MicroBlitz internship program. The Barry Marshall MicroBlitz internship has allowed him to combine both his passion for going out in the community and engaging with regional schools, with his love for ...science. In his spare time Nick enjoys playing the bagpipes, learning languages such as Italian and is a massive Arsenal soccer fan. Further, he loves being outdoors travelling, camping or playing water polo. In fact, Nick is so busy and active it is a wonder he has time to fit in his studies! Knowledge Nugget from Nick:Dont feel anxious or pressured if you dont know what you want to do when you finish high school, explore the possibilities.

22.01.2022 What a week it was last week - our Barry Marshall MicroBlitz Interns accompanied Barry Marshall to Northam Senior High School for an epic day of Science! Follow us this week as we share highlights of the day - we are kicking it off today starting with a snippet from Triple M Avon Valley radio interview with Barry Marshall! https://www.facebook.com/watch/

17.01.2022 Faculty of Science at UWA - Great Job! http://www.news.uwa.edu.au//uwa-sanitiser-protect-most-vul

16.01.2022 Its a different kind of MicroBlitz .... if you can help the Australian Society for Microbiology is building a base of volunteers to assist with COVID-19 testing..

16.01.2022 Micro (Plastic) Blitz!

16.01.2022 From our friends the amazing and resilient people from Millennium Kids .... watch out for future GreenLabs online

15.01.2022 Our Barry Marshall MicroBlitz Interns are enjoying the hands on learning taking place in the labs.

14.01.2022 Introducing, Phoebe, the first of our 8 Barry Marshall MicroBlitz Interns for Semester 2, 2020 to be featured. Phoebe is studying a Bachelor of Biomedical Science majoring in biochemistry and molecular biology because she is fascinated by the way small things, such as single nucleotide changes, can have such a dramatic impact within an organism. By joining the Barry Marshall Microblitz Internship Phoebe is hoping to gain real-world work experience and broaden the opportun...ities available to her after graduation. She is also interested in conducting community outreach because shes keen to get other people as excited about science as she is. Phoebes Favourite Science Joke: Why did the germ cross the microscope? To get to the other slide!

13.01.2022 Wendys journey to where she is now studying Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at UWA came about after she felt dissatisfied with her first experiences at university and took a semester off to work in a hospital. While Wendy had an inkling that she wanted to work in a field that suited her analytical and organised nature, exposure to a range of fields within medicine helped her focus in on microbiology as a future career. With an eye clearly focussed on securing future work... in the biomedical field, Wendy currently combines her study commitments with a part-time job as a lab assistant in a molecular laboratory. Naturally drawn to the Barry Marshall MicroBlitz Internship by the opportunity to expand her hands-on laboratory skillset, Wendy was also keen to learn more about how to communicate science to others. Wendys favourite joke: Two blood cells met and fell in love. Alas, it was all in vein!

13.01.2022 MarineBlitz? For those parents looking for a science-based activity check this out!

13.01.2022 More science fun at Carine SHS during Science Week 2020 ........

13.01.2022 Francine likes to challenge herself and operate out of her comfort zone, in fact the part of her studies she looks forward to most is way out of most peoples comfort zone! Originally from the Philippines and in her second year of university studies, majoring in Anatomy and Human Biology, Francine appreciates the opportunities she gets to work first-hand with cadaver specimens. With a couple of upcoming visits to high schools over the coming weeks, Francine will once again... be operating outside of her comfort zone with very lively audiences - and shes really looking forward to it! Ultimately, Francine is seeking a career within the health at a public level and she has expressed an interest in working for a governmental health department. Francine understands that effective communication about science to the wider community is more important than ever in this current climate and is using the internship to help her develop her own science communication skills. Favourite Science joke: When you die which part of the human body is the last to stop working? Your pupils, they dilate!

12.01.2022 The Sneeze Spray Activity was again a big hit at Northam SHS - this activity was developed by this semesters interns to demonstrate how far a sneeze can travel and the importance of wearing face masks during the Covid-19 pandemic.

11.01.2022 Professor Barry Marshall gives his take on Coronavirus in WA and rates how we are doing!

10.01.2022 Here it is - the full interview with Professor Barry Marshall recorded at Northam Senior High School while he was visiting with the Barry Marshall Interns on their Community Engagement activities. Enjoy!

08.01.2022 Jacqueline has a broad interest in health and disease and has combined studies in microbiology and immunology with population health from the micro to macro! With another 18 months of part-time study before she completes her double major degree Jacqueline thought that the Barry Marshall Internship offered her a unique opportunity to not only improve her technical skill, but also to explore different research opportunities that may be available for post-graduate studies. ...I dont think shell be short of ideas after her talks with Barry, whos always encouraging his interns to question and make connections. Whilst Jacqueline is at home in the lab environment, improving how she communicates her passion for science to others is a skill that she hopes to become more comfortable with through the training and opportunities that the internship offers. Jacquelines favourite science joke: Did you hear the joke about the germ? Dont worry I dont want to spread it around.

08.01.2022 Introducing Grace, who is in her second year of study in a Bachelor of Biomedical Science majoring in microbiology and immunology. Graces inspiration for her area of study, in infectious disease and how the body fights them off, came from watching a documentary. Think we will need to know the name of that doco! Grace put her hand up for the Barry Marshall MicroBlitz Internship to combine her enjoyment of being hands-on in the lab and to build on her previous youth leaders...hip skills to present science experiences to young audiences. After her studies Grace hopes to work in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry. Interestingly, Grace loves doing experiments so much she takes it into the kitchen and creates new recipes to try out on her friends. Grace also spends some of her spare time volunteering as a youth leader in her local church, and at the Telethon Kids Discovery Centre. Graces favourite science pun: Real Biologists take Cellfies!

08.01.2022 Uniforms ready and presented. The Semester 2 intake of Interns have been working hard developing a series of topical outreach activities - themed around Covid-19! They recently had a visit from Professor Andy, who presented their shirts and over lunch listened to their developing ideas! Watch this space as we introduce each of our interns and follow them as they start presenting to various school groups!

06.01.2022 Our interns this semester designed a range of activities based around Covid-19 and to show just how quickly and stealthily germs can spread they did an activity called Glow Hands. By putting a fluorescing powder on their hands and just high 5ing a few students at the start of the lesson - we then observed under a UV light just how many people were infected by the end of the lesson. Good work Team!

05.01.2022 Our Barry Marshall MicroBlitz interns have been practicing their Science Communication Skills out on high school students from Byford Senior High School. We teamed our interns up in groups of 4 to develop science activities and they seemed to have just as much fun as the kids on the day! In this post we are featuring the Black Snake Activity - based around practicing safety in the laboratory and handling dangerous chemicals! Well done to our interns, Tara, Brad, Joel & Lauren.

05.01.2022 Angela Rossen and her recent microscopic & macroscopic adventures in the Bremmer & Leeuwin sea canyons off the West Australian coastline were poetically profiled by Victoria Laurie in the Weekend Australian today! Congratulations to a friend and collaborator .... a great read & I cant wait for a post-covid exhibition!

04.01.2022 Todays Intern Profile is for Brad: Brad has always enjoyed learning and did well at school, which meant that he had lots of pathways open to him once he graduated. However, when he left school he was unsure what he wanted to do, but keen to get started he began studying Engineering at UWA. Unfortunately, Brad didnt enjoy it and he flunked it pretty badly, and had the realisation that he was just wasting his time and money. So, he left Uni and entered the workforce for a ...few years. It took a long time (longer than he thought it would) before he matured, and discovered his interest in the medical sciences. Brad is now in his final semester of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at UWA, and hes enjoying it a lot! Knowledge Nugget from Brad: If you havent yet found your true passion, try other things so that you discover what you really enjoy (or dont enjoy).

04.01.2022 Our other group of interns also got involved with the visiting students from Byford SHS - and they are asking the question Do Microbes Breathe? Check out the pictures below as students set up to test the rate of respiration of yeast when exposed to a number of variables, including temperature and salinity ....... Excellent Presentation!

04.01.2022 One of our friends and collaborators, Environmental Artist Angela Rossen, sharing her recent adventure ......

04.01.2022 Our second featured intern of the day is the talented Tara: Tara, like many of the Interns working with Barry Marshall and MicroBlitz is very interested in science, and she is currently in her 3rd year at UWA studying Microbiology and Biochemistry. But it is not all books and labs for Tara, her hobbies include going to the beach, travelling and Indian dancing. Inspiring and connecting younger students to science and the fabulous opportunities on offer is what attracted Tara ...to apply for the Barry Marshall MicroBlitz Internship. Through the internship Tara is part of a team that is designing and delivering science experiences to high school students in regional WA. Knowledge Nugget from Tara: Dont let not knowing what you want to do at uni stop you, there are lots of opportunities to find out what interests you. I didnt know what I wanted to do and by doing lots of random units I finally found what really interests me.

03.01.2022 Our next intake of Interns for the Barry Marshall MicroBlitz Internship, starting Semester 2, will no doubt have some questions of their own for expert Professor Barry Marshall around Covid-19 - in the meantime here are Barrys thoughts on the development of a vaccine: http://www.news.uwa.edu.au//uwa-expert-series-barry-marsha

03.01.2022 Welcome to Wafa, who is from Singapore and is in her 3rd year of Microbiology, with a major in Immunology. A self-diagnosed introvert, cat lover and curious person Wafa says her interest in Microbiology, blossomed after she completed an internship and final year project as part of her Diploma in Biotechnology. Currently, Wafas interested in reading more on antibiotic resistant superbugs and in the future hopes to conduct research on immunotherapy as treatment for diseases. W...afa joined the Microblitz program as she is fascinated on how tiny bacteria have diverse and strong impacts on humans and environment. Having volunteered at Singapore Science Centre before as a facilitator where she did mini science experiments and activities with children and their parents, she is looking forward to the community engagement aspect of the internship. Wafas favourite science pun: No matter how popular they get, antibiotics will never go viral.

03.01.2022 Professor Barry Marshall on 60 minutes this weekend!

03.01.2022 Claire likes to think she lives in the space between literature and science: she started studying Microbiology & Immunology because it reminded her that whilst we look to the stars to see things beyond our reach, we actually have an entire unexplored micro-universe teeming with life, literally at our fingertips! It appeals to Claires sense of wonder knowing that we co-exist with worlds that are invisible to our naked eye. Claire believes there is poetry within science, and h...er hobbies run along the same vein: she has scientific hobbies such as microscopy, but also greatly enjoys reading, writing, and cloud-watching. In particular, Claire loves writing because she feels that she is more articulate when she puts her thoughts onto paper. This is one of her reasons for joining the Barry Marshall MicroBlitz Internship: she would love to learn how to translate the myriad of thoughts she has about science into words that will connect and inspire young people and to be able to deliver them with confidence Claires favourite science joke: People should respect bacteria - its the only culture some people have!

02.01.2022 Last up for our Intern Profiles is Lucky Joel: Joel is the perfect example of the harder you work - the luckier you get! Joel was born and raised in Bunbury and went to a relatively small school, where only about 15 of his cohort went to university. Joel was one of the lucky ones, who worked hard enough to make it, and in fact he was so lucky he received a direct entry to medicine. He packed his bags and moved out of home to the big city, Perth, and hasnt looked back. Jo...els goal is to become a doctor specialising in paediatrics and he was first became interested in the biomedical side of science when his nan was diagnosed with cancer. Following his nans diagnosis, he started reading and developing an interest in how and why cancer happens. This year Joel is participating in the Barry Marshall MicroBlitz internship and hes most looking forward to the community engagement part of the internship to inspire the next crop of budding scientists. Knowledge Nugget from Joel: Your final years of study at school is the time to sow the seeds that you will harvest in the future, meaning that if you put the effort and work in you will be rewarded in the future. See more

02.01.2022 Like a Rock Star - Professor Barry Marshall entertained the crowds at Northam SHS last week with his adventures in Science. Just like a rock star he was mobbed - everyone wanted a selfie with the Prof - even the Principal!

02.01.2022 READY, STEADY, SNEEZE - SPRAY! Science Week 2020 saw the Barry Marshall MicroBlitz Intern Team head out to Carine SHS to run activities they had developed to show how important good hygiene is in keeping Covid-19 at bay. More fun to follow ......

01.01.2022 A couple of our Barry Marshall MicroBlitz Interns in action at Northam SHS last week. Accompanied by Professors Barry Marshall and Andy Whiteley our interns had a master class in Community Engagement! Pictured here are Claire and Jacqueline who made sure that the students at Northam all had a go!

01.01.2022 Shaaruna is from Singapore and is in her 3rd year of her undergraduate degree majoring in Anatomy and Human Biology. Shaarunas earliest memory of being fascinated by how the human body works she traces back to an experience as a 5 year old, when she had a bad fall that caused her to bleed. She distinctly remembers thinking, How is red water coming out and why am I red inside? Shaaruna joined the Barry Marshall Microblitz Internship as she believes that it will provide unique opportunities to explore her interests in Microbiology. Shaaruna is particularly keen to practise the lab techniques covered in the internship, which are very different from her anatomy labs. Shaarunas favourite science pun: Anatomy jokes are Cornea!