The College of Science and Technology led a workshop for local high school biology teachers on using art to teach complex science topics. Teachers also received a demonstration of MEGA, an evolutionary analysis software developed by Temple faculty Sudhir Kumar. 

Colored pencils, not microscopes, were among the most important teaching tools in a Temple University science classroom earlier this month. 

On Friday, Aug. 14, the College of Science and Technology (CST) welcomed local high school biology teachers for a one-day workshop centered around using art to teach genomics and other biology concepts to high school students.  

“Art really trains students, especially nowadays, to focus and to develop skills that enable them to discover things,” said Caryn Babaian, assistant professor of biology and faculty advisor for CST’s genomic medicine major. “We often separate art and science today, and we shouldn’t. Art is what made science happen.” 

Art, Babaian said, has historically played an important role in the advancement of many science topics. While its applications in science today have lessened, Babaian and other educators continue to advocate for the use of art through the concept of STEAM, which adds an ‘A’ to the common STEM acronym. 

“STEAM really started around 25, 30 years ago, when people found that students who combine art and science have more fun with it and get more out of it,” said Babaian, who in addition to teaching biology and anatomy for over 20 years has authored multiple biology-based graphic novels and developed other innovative educational materials. 

Led by Babaian, the Summer Genomics Workshop featured a demonstration of MEGA, a genomic analysis software developed by the research group of CST’s Sudhir Kumar, Laura H. Carnell Professor of Biology and director of the Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine. The workshop was funded in part by a $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation to support further development of MEGA that is used by thousands of researchers and students worldwide. 

Genomics is the study of an organism’s complete set of genetic material, known as its genome. It is a rapidly growing scientific field with applications in medicine, forensics and public health, among others.  

It also remains a tricky subject to teach to young students. The workshop equipped teachers with new, artful approaches for teaching genomics, and it introduced teachers to CST’s genomic medicine program, the only undergraduate-level degree program of its kind in the country. 

The day kicked off with a series of drawing demonstrations led by Babaian, as well as an introduction to a graphic novel she developed, called A Very Graphic, Graphic Novel, which teachers can use as an innovative and hands-on resource to teach students about genomics. 

Throughout the workshop, Babaian referenced famous historical artist-scientists, such as Leonardo DaVinci, who rewrote anatomy; Robert Hooke, who established microscopy; and Santagio Cajal, considered the father of neuroscience. 

“There are a number of ways to teach. What Caryn is doing with her graphic novels and integrating STEM and art is a new frontier in which we can truly entice students into thinking differently,” Kumar said. “To me, in this new AI era, innovative ways of teaching will be the key to enhancing critical thinking and deep understanding. So much content is already available to everyone, so it’s not about the content, it’s about how you deliver it to students and how they interact with it.” 

The workshop was attended by 15 teachers from local high schools like the School of the Future, Northeast High School and South Philadelphia High School. 

Participating teachers received 

• a $500 stipend; 
• a complete classroom-ready genomics lesson focused on a Mendelian genetic disorder; 
• a complimentary copy of Babaian’s graphic novel; and 
• lesson plans, student activities and other instructional resources ready for classroom use. 

In the afternoon, the teachers also received a hands-on demonstration of MEGA from Jack Craig, assistant professor of research in the Department of Biology.  

“MEGA has a feature in which you can predict the outcome of a mutation in a particular protein. It can tell us, according to the knowledge we have today, whether this particular mutation is associated with any diseases,” Kumar said. “This excites students, because they can see a real-world application of genomics. This is one way we can get young people to think about the importance of medicine and genomics.”  

Maria Barnett, an AP and honors biology teacher at Northeast High School, was excited to learn more about MEGA and the ways she could incorporate art in her lessons on biology and phylogenetics, the study of evolutionary relationships among organisms.  

“These are tough topics that are very hard for my students to understand. This workshop gave me some tools to help the kids understand phylogenetics better,” she said. “And I love art. I always filled up my schedule with art classes, when it wasn’t filled up with science classes. I love the creativity part—it’s something I’ve always encouraged to my students.”