Opening Advanced Laboratories to School Students: Our Model for Structuring Round-Trip Activities from School to University and Back

Collaboration with universities may assist secondary schools faced with challenges of promoting state-of-the-art chemistry and biosciences education. This paper outlines university-based programs in Israel (Belmonte) and Italy (CusMiBio) that enhance learning experiences by allowing classes of pupils to interact with academics and perform hands-on experiments in advanced scientific laboratories. These programs facilitate a symbiotic relationship between secondary schools and the university. This paper outlines a conceptual model for university-based science interventions. We describe the programs at Belmonte and CusMiBio, and explain how each program implements group activities for hybrid science laboratories that aim to enhance learning. Teacher training is also described, along with activities essential for establishing a round-trip experience- whereby learning activities continue to have an impact after completion of these special trips to the university laboratory.