‘See it, Do it’, an initiative which provides Leaving Certificate students with an opportunity to work in RCSI (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland) laboratories with RCSI staff and students, conducting biology practical experiments, is taking place during the month of November in RCSI.

The event is part of both Science Week (8-15 November) and College Awareness Week (23-27 November). 

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. Now in its third year, the Series enables students from RCSI's local community of South East Inner City Dublin to carry out mandatory experiments from the Leaving Certificate Biology curriculum such as dissections; isolating DNA from plant tissue; and using a light microscope to examine cells.

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 Cliona Lyes project worker in partnership with Dr Maria Morgan, MCT, John O'Brien, Department of Anatomy and Kate McQuaid, Division of Biology. The initiative is supported by Mary Ledwith, MCT; staff from the Department of Anatomy; and PhD student demonstrators Nicola Kavanagh, Amy Cole, Shane O'Grady and William White.

Maria Kelly, REACH RCSI Programme Manager said: “The ‘See it, Do it’ Leaving Certificate Biology Practical Series gives 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. We are delighted that the initiative is part of Science Week and College Awareness Week this year and we hope the programme will inspire the students to pursue further education and careers in science.”

A central component of the REACH RCSI Programme is the promotion of education, using RCSI's core expertise to supporting 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.