Citizen Science and Biohacking - a powerfulcombination in STEM?

Egle Marija Ramanauskaite (Technarium)

Vida Mildaziene (Vytautas Magnus University)

LOOKING FOR BIOSYNTHETIC DIVERSITY IN

LICHEN

REDISCOVERING THE DIVERSITY OF BRYOZOA

IN LITHUANIA

Project started with National Academy of Students in Lithuania.

Aim: use the power of citizen science to screen largest populationsof lichens ever, and discover new natural productsAppeal: lichens are suspected to be "treasure chests" of naturalproducts, but cannot be grown in the lab & therefore not easilystudied. However, the collection and analysis of lichens can becarried out effectively with joint efforts of citizen science, andavailability of biohacking equipment / local lab.

Students get to:- collect samples of diverse species of lichen - extract DNA in a "simulated" lab in the class - carry on in their school lab or a local biohacking lab to sequencebiosynthetic genes of lichen- analyse the result & look for new natural products- help create a lichen distribution map

Project started with science popularization project "ScienceVector", and the Young Researcher Club in Lithuania.

Aim: retrace the steps of historical, yet forgotten Lithuanian womenscientist - B. Pajiedaite, and discover the missing species of Lithuanianbryozoa (of which only 4 are known today)Appeal: bryozoa are subtle and poorly researched animals that couldcarry important clues to the biology and evolution of marineinvertebrates. B. Pajiedaite carried out fascinating research onbryozoa, discovered & characterized 7 species in the beginning of20th cent. However, her research was lost during WWII. We aim torekindle research of bryozoa in Lithuania through citizen science.

Students get to: - analyze B. Pajiedaite's research to discover places of observation &learn from her techniques- collect samples bryozoa from water bodies- with guidance of lab scientist, carry out electron microscopy of thecollected bryozoa & identify them- help create a bryozoa distribution map

Learning opportunities: citizen science + biohacking

Improvized biolab in class. Photo by

E.M.Ramanauskaite.

Lichen DNA extracted by the students in a workshop.

Photo by E.M.Ramanauskaite.

Bryozoa. Photo by G. Steiblis (left) and V.Mildaziene (right).

biodiversity biology scientific processsample collection tinkering with equipment improvisation with protocols

laboratory techniques participatory inquiry confidence in DIY molecular biology methods