A new initiative which provides Leaving Certificate students with an opportunity to work in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) laboratories with RCSI staff and students, conducting practical experiments from the Leaving Certificate Biology curriculum, begins today.

The 'See it, Do it' Leaving Certificate Biology Practical Series is an initiative of the REACH RCSI Programme, the Community Outreach and Access Programme of RCSI. The Series will enable students from RCSI's local community of South East Inner City Dublin to carry out nine mandatory experiments from the Leaving Certificate Biology curriculum such as dissections; isolating DNA from plant tissue; and using a light microscope.

Students will gain valuable hands-on experience of experiments and information will be provided on careers in science as well as getting a real insight into life at college which aims to give the students an added incentive to succeed in their studies.

This collaborative initiative is led by the REACH RCSI Programme Manager, Maria Kelly and Clíona Lyes, RCSI Project worker, in partnership with Dr Maria Morgan, MCT and John O'Brien, Department of Anatomy. The project will be further supported by RCSI student volunteer demonstrators.

Maria Kelly, REACH RCSI Programme Manager, said: "The 'See it, Do it' Leaving Certificate Biology Practical Series will give many of the students an opportunity to conduct their own hands-on experiments which may not have been possible in their own schools due to limited laboratory resources. It is hoped that the initiative will help the students gain a better understanding of the biology curriculum and also inspire them to pursue careers in science."

A central component of the REACH RCSI Programme is the promotion of education, using RCSI's core expertise to support the teaching and learning of science at primary and post primary level by facilitating the development of an interest in science and education among individuals from local communities.

The initiative is an interdepartmental collaboration with support from Mary Ledwith and Kay McKeon, MCT and staff from the Department of Anatomy.

The series takes place over the month of November, coinciding with Science Week.