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Volume 6, Issue 6

Unearthing new learning opportunities: adapting and innovating through the ‘Antibiotics under our feet’ citizen science project in Scotland during COVID-19 Open Access

Abstract

‘Antibiotics under our feet’ is a Scottish citizen science project that aimed to raise science capital in primary school learners and their teachers through measurement of microbial diversity in urban soil samples in the search for novel antimicrobial compounds. Resistance to antibiotics is rising, posing a global threat to human health. Furthermore, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills are in crisis, jeopardising our capacity to mobilise as a society to fight antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Originally conceived as a response to the AMR and STEM emergencies, our project was hit by the unprecedented challenge of engaging with schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. We describe how we adapted our project to enable remote participation from primary schools and youth groups, utilising COVID-19 response initiatives as opportunities for multi-level co-creation of resources with learners in primary, secondary, and higher education. We produced portable kit boxes for soil sample collection with learning activities and videos linked to the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence. We also addressed glaring project specific content gaps relating to microbiology on English and Simple English Wikipedia. Our hybrid model of working extended our geographical reach and broadened inclusion. We present here the inception, implementation, digital resource outputs, and discussion of pedagogical aspects of ‘Antibiotics under our feet’. Our strategies and insights are applicable post-pandemic for educators to develop STEM skills using soil, microbes, and antibiotics as a theme.

  • Received:
  • Accepted:
  • Published Online:
Keyword(s): antibiotics , citizen science , microbiology , public engagement and school outreach
Funding
This study was supported by the:
  • UK Research and Innovation (Award EP/X020894/1)
    • Principal Award Recipient: KirstyRoss
  • European Commission (Award 101036101)
    • Principal Award Recipient: KirstyRoss
  • Wellcome Trust (Award 204821/Z/16/Z)
    • Principal Award Recipient: KirstyRoss
  • Wellcome Trust (Award 217078/Z/19/Z)
    • Principal Award Recipient: ClarissaMelo Czekster
  • Wellcome Trust (Award 210486/Z/18/Z)
    • Principal Award Recipient: ClarissaMelo Czekster
© 2024 The Authors
  • This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.
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2024-06-19
2026-03-09

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Unearthing new learning opportunities: adapting and innovating through the ‘Antibiotics under our feet’ citizen science project in Scotland during COVID-19
Access Microbiology 6, 000710.v3 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1099/acmi.0.000710.v3
/content/journal/acmi/10.1099/acmi.0.000710.v3
/content/journal/acmi/10.1099/acmi.0.000710.v3
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