This document discusses developing a vaccine for the Ebola virus and testing it on volunteers. It provides background on Ebola, explaining that it is highly infectious, caused by a virus, and kills 70% of infected individuals. There is currently no known cure or vaccine. The document then describes how the proposed Ebola vaccine works, using a harmless chimpanzee cold virus that carries a gene from the Ebola virus. This gene allows cells to produce Ebola protein molecules to trigger an immune response. Students are asked to take on the role of deciding whether to test this experimental vaccine on volunteers by weighing the risks and benefits. They must consider different sources of information on the vaccine's safety and development before making a

1. Equipping the Next Generation for
Active Engagement in Science
Tony Sherborne

2. How do we make sure
students will use
Science in their lives?

3. 3
Will you test the vaccine?
Main Plenary
This is a public health
emergency. Ebola has
reached Europe. There is
a risk of it spreading
The Ebola virus has
killed thousands of
people in West Africa
Starter

4. 4
In this activity, you will
Decide whether to test the vaccine using
what you know about:
Genetics: how genes carry information
Science in society: Weighing up risks and
benefits to make a decision
Working ScientificallyBig Idea

5. 5
What is Ebola?
 Highly infectious disease
 Caused by a virus
 Kills 70% of those infected
 No known cure or vaccine
A vaccine gives
you immunity
for a disease.
This means that you
cannot catch it.
?
genetic information
(only seven genes)
protein
molecules
The
Ebola
virus
Main PlenaryStarter

6. 6
SS1
White blood cell ‘eating’
the Ebola protein molecules
4
Chimp cold virus
1
virus
Ebola protein
molecules made
your cell
2
genetic
information
released
White blood cell
Ebola
virus
5 3
Play How the vaccine works
Main PlenaryStarter

7. Student sheets
A
C
E
G
I
B
D
F
H
J
How the vaccine works
SS1
The vaccine contains a harmless
chimp cold virus that carries one
gene taken from an Ebola virus.
The vaccine contains a harmless
chimp cold virus that carries one protein
molecule taken from an Ebola virus.
The virus enters your cells and they
make the protein molecule coded for
by the Ebola gene.
The cells release the Ebola
protein molecules into your body.
The cells release the
Ebola virus into your body.
Your immune system attacks and
destroys the protein molecules.
Your immune system attacks
and destroys the Ebola virus.
If later you are infected with Ebola, your
immune system recognises the protein
on the surface of the viruses. They are
destroyed before they get a chance
to multiply and make you ill.
If later you are infected with Ebola, your
immune system recognises the genes in
the viruses. They are destroyed before
they get a chance to multiply and
make you ill.
The virus enters your cells and they
make the protein molecule coded
for by the Ebola chromosome.

8. 8
SS2-3
You want to find
out the risks and
benefits before
making your
decision.
Read the different sources.
 Think about whether the source is reliable or if you should ignore it.
 Decide how big the risk and benefits are.
 Do the benefits outweigh the risks for you? For others?
Will you test the vaccine?
Newspaper
TV news
Drug
company
website
Celebrity tweet
Ask family
Ask friend
Ask doctor
Ask
science
teacher
Starter PlenaryMain

9. Student sheets
Sources
Member of your family A friend
Science
teacher
Doctor
SS3a
My Mum is a doctor.
She might treat
people with Ebola.
A vaccine would
keep her safe.
You will be given
an untested vaccine.
It could harm you – let
someone else try it.
A vaccine, like any
medicine, carries
health risks.
However, in tested
vaccines these are
very rare.
We need to test
new vaccines on
people to check
they work and are
completely safe.
Without this no
new vaccines can
be developed.

10. Student sheets
SS3b
Sources
The Ebola vaccine is
being developed much
more quickly than
normal so it gets to
people at risk as
soon as possible.
TV news
Drug company website
Both parts of the
vaccine (the virus
and the Ebola gene)
have been tested in
humans before and
shown to be safe.
The health of
the volunteers
will be
checked daily
by doctors.
Newspaper
Money grabbing drug companies
planning to give babies in Africa an
Ebola vaccine that has been rushed
through trials #antivaccine
Selena McCarthy
@selenam
Celebrity tweet

11. Student sheets
Making a decision If I test the vaccine...
SS2
Benefits to me
I will be immune to Ebola
if the vaccine works
I will feel good about
helping other people
There might be other side
effects from the vaccine
I might get Ebola from the
vaccine
Risks to me
Total score
Benefits to others
If the vaccine works it could
help save many lives
The drug company will
make money
If I get Ebola from the
vaccine it could spread
If I get ill from side-effects my
family and friends will be upset
Risks to others
Score
0 +1 +2 +3
Score how big each benefit/risk is and how likely it is to happen
+ +
Score
0 -1 -2 -3
Score
0 +1 +2 +3
Score
0 -1 -2 -3
Positive score means benefits
are bigger. Negative score
means risks are bigger
Total score
Positive score means benefits
are bigger. Negative score
means risks are bigger

12. 12
Step 1: Gather topical news stories
New £100 million
genomics project
Should we fund it?
Mission to Mars
Would you volunteer?
Electric shock
wristband
Should obese
people wear one
so they exercise?
Poo powered bus
Should all our sewage be
converted into fuels?

13. 60 Dilemmas
engagingscience.eu
What does the fox say?
Sound
Grow your own body
Organs
Ban Coke?
Health
Ebola: trial the vaccine?
Genetics

14. Problem
• Dilemma Lessons and Case Studies to make
learning authentic
• Group Discussions and Question Patterns to
build reasoning and understanding
• Argument Framework and Gradual Release
to teach knowledge and skills
Teaching Tools

15. 4 Integrated components
Workshops
Online Courses
Community
Curriculum Materials
.

16. www.engagingscience.eu
Tony Sherborne, Project Coordinator
t.sherborne@shu.ac.uk