Improving public understanding of microorganisms by integrating microbiology concepts into science teaching throughout the education system
Document Type
Book Chapter
Publication Title
Importance of Microbiology Teaching and Microbial Resource Management for Sustainable Futures
Publisher
Elsevier
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences
RAS ID
44785
Abstract
An understanding of microbiological concepts is important for all citizens because we are all affected by microbial life on Earth. Microbes play a role in our food manufacture, affect our individual health and microbial growth underpins our healthy environments. Teaching microbiology, particularly at primary and secondary school levels, tends to focus on human pathogens and ways to ensure that we remain healthy. Although important (and never more so during the global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic), these lessons rarely describe the importance of microbes to other aspects of our lives or emphasise that the vast majority of microbial species will not cause human disease. In order to improve microbial literacy and to elevate decision making by governments and other agencies to include correct microbial concepts, interesting, relevant and safe education should be provided throughout primary and secondary school and be continued during tertiary study. This chapter discusses microbiology education at all levels and goes on to describe excellence in teaching practice including the provision of online exercises and the value assigned to these activities by students. Improved microbial education will improve decision-making that involves microbes, and that is important for all of us.
DOI
10.1016/B978-0-12-818272-7.00003-1
Access Rights
subscription content
Comments
Lloyd, M. L., & Berry, J. A. (2022). Improving public understanding of microorganisms by integrating microbiology concepts into science teaching throughout the education system. In Importance of Microbiology Teaching and Microbial Resource Management for Sustainable Futures (pp. 107-133). Elsevier https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-818272-7.00003-1