This document describes BiOutils, an interface created to support biology teaching. It was established in 2006 through collaboration between teachers and university researchers. BiOutils provides experiments, materials, and expertise to schools to make biology education accessible and engaging. It has expanded to serve primary through university levels and now supports over 10,000 students annually through classroom activities, lab visits, and public outreach events.

1. 18.03.2016
BiOutils: biology for everyone!
Massimo Caine
11th Scientix Projects’ Networking Event

2. BiOutils: biology for everyone! 11th SPNE – Bruxelles, 18.03.2016
The challenges of
teaching Biology
…the support of an interface is needed!
Biological research
respecting the
state-of-the-art
adapting to the
high pace
Lab tools
the material is
expensive
Biological samples
difficulties of
storing conditions
Literature Teachers’ questions
need for a centralized
information

3. Setting up the interface « BiOutils »
contraction of bio and outils (tools) – pronounced « beauty »
April
2006
December
2006
Discussion with the
Academic environment
June
2006
Survey
sent to teachers
September
2006
Introducing BiOutils
to teachers
“This is exactly what we need!”
December
2006
Workshop for teachers
presenting BiOutils scopes
Discussion with teachers. Definition of
needs and expectations.
January
2007
BiOutils website designed in
collaboration with teachers
Built according to the needs of
teachers and academic possibilities
http://bioutils.ch
March
2007
Official launch of
BiOutils 2015
BiOutils: biology for everyone! 11th SPNE – Bruxelles, 18.03.2016

4. Research
SCHOOLS
Biology: primary and
secondary education
Section
of Biologie
Faculty
of Medicine
BiOutils: an integrated platform
http://bioutils.ch
Support and promote the teaching of modern biology providing equipment
and know-how to public and private schools
MISSION
BiOutils: biology for everyone! 11th SPNE – Bruxelles, 18.03.2016

5. Yeast cell counting
Restriction enzymes
Gram staining
Bacteria transf.
Gene cloning
Gene retro-inhibition
UV mutagenesis
PCR reaction
DNA extraction
Microorganism detect.
Build a DNA molecule
Cells and DNA
Water analysis
ELISA test
Photosynthesis
Solubility
Antibiotics
Trivial Evolution
Molecular
phylogenetic
Bacteriophages
Bacterial conjugation
Biological pigments
Meteo
The mysterious fly
Trivial evolution:
plants
High schools
Middle schools
Elementary schools
http://www.bioutils.ch
BiOutils: biology for everyone! 11th SPNE – Bruxelles, 18.03.2016

6. Yeast cell
counting
0,7 g in 10 mL
Dil 100X 100X 10X 10X
Sterile plastic pipettes
Propipettes
Automatic pipettes P200
Test tubes (sterile)
Dilution tubes rack
Thoma cell counter
Pipettes Pasteurs
Material provided
Micropipettes P1000
Special waste bag
Sterile H20 (for dilutions)
Sterile tips
Yeast petri dishes
Vortex
Pedagogical value
Different measuring methods
Working in sterile conditions
Small biological organisms
Big numbers
Growing colony from single cell
WINNER
1st Prize
BiOutils: biology for everyone! 11th SPNE – Bruxelles, 18.03.2016

7. Peer-reviewed pedagogical journals publishing
Learning objectives:
1. Visualize and explore the double strand structure of DNA
2. Experience first-hand the mechanisms of DNA replication
3. Describe the relationship between DNA and genetic traits
4. Apply the learned concepts to further experiences
Caine et al., 2015
BiOutils: biology for everyone! 11th SPNE – Bruxelles, 18.03.2016

8. BiOutils, an interface to connect university laboratories with microbiology
classes in schools
Caine M., Zuchuat S., Weber A., Ducret V., Linder P, and Perron K.
Scientific peer-reviewed publishing
BiOutils: biology for everyone! 11th SPNE – Bruxelles, 18.03.2016

9. Experiments
&
Material
Questions High school
thesis
Laboratory
visits
Events Stages Developing
new ad hoc
experiments
Professional
courses
GATEWAY TOWARDS UNIVERSITY
Primary
schools
Secondary
schools
Broad
public
BiOutils: biology for everyone! 11th SPNE – Bruxelles, 18.03.2016

10. From the BiOutils activity report 2013-2014
BiOutils: an established and versatile approach…
Number of students participating to
BiOutils activities
…and contagious!
Geneva Bellinzona
.
BiOutils: biology for everyone! 11th SPNE – Bruxelles, 18.03.2016

11. BiOutils a pioneer platform of the ScienScope
2007 2008 2011
201420142015
BiOutils: biology for everyone! 11th SPNE – Bruxelles, 18.03.2016

12. 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1 2 3 4
Percentagefrequency
n=43
m.=3,7
md.=4
s.=0,6
ab.=2
A
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1 2 3 4
Percentagefrequency
B
n=42
m.=3,5
md.=4
s.=0,67
ab.=2
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1 2 3 4
Percentagefrequency
C
n=38
m.=3,26
md.=3
s.=0,69
ab.=4
D
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1 2 3 4
Percentagefrequency
n=50
m.=3,9
md.=4
s.=0,46
 Do the BiOutils classroom experiences increase the interest of students for the topic?
 Do the BiOutils classroom experiences make easier the understanding of the topic?
 Is the number of experiences proposed by BiOutils sufficient for your needs?
 Do you think that is important that a structure like BiOutils, fully integrated in a research laboratory, is
maintained and developed further?
BiOutils: biology for everyone! 11th SPNE – Bruxelles, 18.03.2016
Caine et al., 2015b

13. Patrick Linder
Professeur
Dpt de Microbiologie et Médecine
Moléculaire
Faculté de Médecine
Université de Genève
Karl Perron
Chargé d’enseignement
Unité de microbiologie
Faculté des Sciences
Université de Genève
THE TEAM
HEAD UNIT TEAM
Sandrine Zuchuat
Aurélia Weber
Véréna Ducret
Massimo Caine
…and the lab research team!
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
http://bioutils.ch
Mauro Tonolla
Cristina Corti-Fragoso
SUPSI - Ticino
SUPSI - Ticino

14. Making Biology
accessible for
everyone!
The End
bioutils@unige.ch

15. BiOutils: biology for everyone! SCIENTIX – Bruxelles, 17.03.2016

16. TLC silica plates
Micropipettes P1000
Micropipettes P20
Sterile tips
Plastic tubes 15 mL
Tube rack
Material provided
Trivial Evolution
Les plantes
Game surface 3mt x 3mt
Mousse dice
Coloured pawns
Species’ cards
Questions’ cards
Pedagogical book
Games instructions
Material provided
Ethanol 100%
TLC block
Solvent mix
Balance
Pedagogical value
Pedagogical value
Photosynthesis
Biological pigments
Evolution
Endosymbiosis
Evolution
Species
Taxonomical class.
Phylogenies
Biodiversity
Vitamins
Chromatography
Polarity
Developed by:
Systematic
Morphological characteristic
Genetic
Domestication
Pigments of Life
BiOutils: biology for everyone! 11th SPNE – Bruxelles, 17.03.2016

17. BiOutils: biology for everyone! PSS – 07.09.2015
Public outdoor outreach activities
Microbiological path – Val Piora, Ticino:

18. ODK: a collaboration with the national television
Series of 10min episodes for kids, addressing and explaining the most diverse
scientific questions from chemistry, physics and biology.
Gravitropism explained The plants that move
BiOutils: biology for everyone! PSS – 07.09.2015