Narrative
Andreas Prokop uses the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster as a powerful model to study nervous system ageing and degeneration. Inspired by this work, he and Manchester Fly Facility Manager Sanjai Patel launched the droso4schools initiative, collaborating with teachers to develop curriculum-relevant biology lessons including experiments with living flies that actively engage pupils. Their free lesson resources are downloaded worldwide, with >3,500 pupils on 6 continents having benefitted from this improved learning experience, as well as influencing pupils to choose science studies at university. Furthermore, droso4schools has inspired follower initiatives in Nigeria, Latin America, Indonesia, Croatia and Turkey, actively supported by Prokop and Patel.| Impact date | 1 Aug 2013 → 31 Jul 2020 |
|---|---|
| Category of impact | Attitudes and behaviours, Awareness and understanding, Society and culture |
| Impact level | Adoption |
Documents & Links
Related content
-
Research output
-
The droso4schools project: long-term scientist-teacher collaborations to promote science communication and education in schools
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
-
Efa6 protects axons and regulates their growth and branching by inhibiting microtubule polymerisation at the cortex
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
-
Mouse ACF7 and Drosophila Short stop modulate filopodia formation and microtubule organisation during neuronal growth
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
-
Spectraplakins promote microtubule-mediated axonal growth by functioning as structural microtubule-associated proteins and EB1-dependent + TIPs (tip interacting proteins)
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
-
Tau and spectraplakins promote synapse formation and maintenance through Jun kinase and neuronal trafficking
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
-
Periodic actin structures in neuronal axons are required to maintain microtubules
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review