Madame, Sir,
The Life learning centre (LLC) of Bologna ( www.llc.unibo.it) and the École de l'ADN (DNA learning centre - DLC) of Nîmes ( www.ecole-adn.fr) are planning a project that is relevant beyond the scope of a call coming within the framework of the FP 7, Science in Society, "Young people & science - Teaching methods" (SIS-2007-2.2.1.2).
Therefore, DLC & LLC are looking for partners to carry out this project.
To educate a genetically literate public is one of the goals of these centres. These clearing house for information in the life sciences educate people who want to become initiated in biotechnology. To that aim, DLC & LLC propose a large range of hands-on experiments which use several methods in molecular, cell biology & biochemistry. Since its opening in November 1998, the DLC trained about 35 000 people. The LLC, since 2000, trained 17 000 people.
Most of the trainees are secondary school pupils or undergraduate students. Are trained as well teachers and general public. The teaching, based on hands-on experiments, combines methods with techniques and fits the objectives and syllabus of the life sciences till undergraduate level. It includes industrial applications & ethical approaches. Moreover, by using real biotechnology processes, the pupils will be encouraged to develop their practical skills and persue scientific studies.
Both LLC & DLC have gained in the course of their experience an outstanding expertise in high-tech life sciences hands-on experiments which aroused and still arouse interest of many other actors belonging to science centres, museums, universitiesŠ So, DLC is developing a French-speaking network of DLCs (10 centres throughout France & Québec in 2006) ; LLC an Italian network (5 centres in 2006).
The networks development comes about transfer of educational, scientific and technical methods from DLC or LLC toward the network contributors.
DLC & LLC are therefore planning to extend their knowledge transfer activities at the european level, targeted at science centres, museums, universities, etc.
In concrete terms, the project consists on implementing a transfert of knowledge, protocols and methods from DLC & LLC toward the science centres, museum or universities involved as partner of the european project.
First, financed by European Communities, each partner appoint some staff to follow a training course (5 days) realized by LLC & DLC (about 50 % M/F ratio will be required) for trainees groups). At the end of the training course, the trainees will be able to manage 8 hands-on experiments of DLC & LLC as well as teaching methods for a various range of public.
Secondly, each partners will have a financial support to equip his own laboratory in which the hands-on experiments will be performed.
Thirdly, at the end of the training round, a workshop should be organised in Bruxelles, bringing together DLC, LLC, trainees and some of their institution managers and, why not, members of the EU commission.
The aim of the workshop should be :
1/ to debrief about the training ;
2/ to check the setting conditions of the hands-on experiments in each science centre, museum or university ;
3/ to bring together european actors of scientific culture and science education in life science about training & education using experimental approach ;
4/ to lay the foundation for an european network.
If you are interested by this european project, please contact us :

Jean-Christophe Lallement
General manager, École de l'ADN (DNA Learning Centre)
BP 81295
F-30015 Nîmes cedex 1
Tel/Fax : +33 4 6667 8229 ; jclalle@ecole-adn.fr