Abstract:

Here I present activities of a Dissemination Science Project that will be realized in the framework of MEETmeTONIGHT 2021 Event, the annual initiative included in the circuit of the European Researchers' Night events promoted by the European Commission in all European countries. This project aims to create a unique opportunity to meet and to speak with researchers in order to understand how scientific research has an impact in everyday life of all of us.

The activities that I’ll be proposed also aim to consolidate a bridge between the scientific community of Federico II Biology Department and the local high school students. To this aim, I’ll involve a selection of undergraduate students of the second academic year of biology degree in practical activities that will be included in their Thesis.
In collaboration with my colleagues and the selected university students, I have conceived interdisciplinary experimental activities that will revolve around the theme of diet and epigenetics that we will propose during the event.

We all know that a diet rich in fruit and vegetables is healthy for our everyday life, but it is becoming increasingly clear that everything we eat will impact our DNA. During the activity here proposed students will learn about the connection between nutrients in their diet and the stability of their genome. Moreover they will be able also to:
-Describe nutrient compositions of healthy and unhealthy diets
-Explain how genomic instability may lead to the development of diseases such as cancer
-Summarize the impact of diet on genomic stability.

Among the products of the innovative teaching activities there will be that of verifying how many of the visitors know which are the genetic factors that allow to inherit that phenotype and/or modify it, enriching the biodiversity of our planet. In addition, students will prepare popular posters and models to illustrate how our diet can influence the epigenetic changes in our genome that underlie various diseases, including cancer and obesity. A 3-D cut-and-paste model depicting how histone, acetyl and methyl molecules control access to DNA and affect gene expression, DNA or protein extraction from greens, gel electrophoresis, extraction and dosage of pigments will be among of the proposed and participated activities. Memory-themed games that will be used to involve also the young student by correlating epigenetic and diet.

In conclusion, this year's novelty will be also the event that I'm organizing with virtual laboratory activities aimed also to High Schools teachers that should draw inspiration for an innovative teaching springed out from research on a captivating theme that fits in the interest that the plants are taking in the field of the green economy and healthy eating having significant implications for our long-term health and our life expectancy.

I got a free trial from Labster.com, an application that offers virtual lab simulations. Labster, recreates the hands-on lab experience because students can run experiments and interact with lab equipment so that students aren't just watching a video of someone else performing the experiments, but taking part in it. Students will carry out laboratory simulations alone or in groups. For these activities one of the labster simulations I have chosen is entitled Your Diet and Your DNA (https://www.labster.com/simulations/your-diet-and-your-dna/)

Keywords:

Innovative continuing professional development and learning, innovative teaching stem discipline, inquiry based science education, science popularization.