(15 Sep. 2021) Amgen Korea (GM: Sang Noh) and the Seoul Science Center (Director: Jung-gyu Lee) announced on 13th the opening of the virtual experiment platform Grow up, Bio up Online Lab where children and adolescents can perform virtual life science experiments.
The online science lab Grow up, Bio up is opened as part of the Grow up, Bio up campaign that Amgen Korea and the Center has been running since 2020 to advocate life science learning for children and adolescents in Korea. This online science lab is equipped with expensive test tools and equipment virtually for children and adolescents to have hands-on science experience wherever and whenever they want, which is otherwise difficult to have. Giving personalized learning opportunities powered by highly-advanced information technologies like virtual reality, it can provide access to contact-free quality science education regardless of time and location.
The first subject to be covered is molecular biology for middle and high school students. Students will have a chance to study DNA 101 and perform an experiment to categorize germs using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). They will get to do everything on their own for virtual experiments from adjusting the volume of solutions to setting up the time required for cell culture, and write post-experiment lab notes to track test designs and results for self-evaluation. Designing and performing multiple experiments and tests on their own allows them to compare different results; and the awards like Best Experiment Award, Best Observation Award and Best Attendance Award will also be given to keep students engaged with Grow up, Bio up.
Training content on the platform will continue to be updated with more basic life science experiments soon available for elementary school students. Online life science content developed by the Center will also be integrated to the platform to help students plan and lead their learning autonomously, with the help from detailed learning guide map. The platform will be further enriched in the future when the metaverse platform Gather Town is integrated, for more hands-on science training programs in 3-dimentional space.
Sang Noh, GM, Amgen Korea, said: “We are excited to launch this online science lab as part of the Grow up, Bio up campaign together with the Seoul Science Center. As the COVID-19 pandemic has made remote learning more important, Grow up, Bio up Online Lab is expected to be a venue for more children and adolescents to do science experiments wherever they are and whenever they want, and feel closer to science. Amgen Korea is empowered by the biology first approach and will remain committed to improving access to science education and culture for children and adolescents here in Korea.”
Jung-gyu Lee, Director, Seoul Science Center, said: “As life science experiments take much time, money and equipment, they have been not-so-accessible for children and adolescents. That being said, Grow up, Bio up Online Lab is a new exciting opportunity for students to take the lead and do science experiments they want. The Grow up, Bio up campaign will continue to introduce hands-on learning opportunities in areas like biology or science exhibition. Driven by the principle of “Basic science center for adolescents,” the Seoul Science Center will continue to seek ways to make learning most beneficial for students.”
Any students who are interested in contact-free, virtual experiments can access Grow up, Bio up from a banner on the Center’s website using a computer.
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CONTACT:
Amgen Korea
Min-Jung Jung (mjung02@amgen.com)
Mikyung Shin (mshin@amgen.com)
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