Fungi, friend or foe

Paul Nicholson, JIC and Sarah Calne, Lynn Grove High School

My pupils were in for a surprise when Dr. Paul Nicholson from the John Innes Centre arrived. He had come to lead practical work and give a talk entitled 'Fungi, friend or Foe ?'

Previously, the pupils had described what their idea of a typical Scientist is. The usual tired old stereotypes abounded, comments ranging from 'someone really old and square with a white coat, thick glasses and a weird hairstyle', and ' a crazy boffin' to 'the bloke from Back to the Future'. But, of course, Paul Nicholson did not fit any of these images; pupils later describing him as 'relaxed' and 'normal'.

The pupils saw fungal spores under the microscope that Paul brought to the school and saw a demonstration of the effects of a powerful toxin on some respiring yeast cells. Pupils certainly found the event interesting and informative, and when asked later what they remembered of the lesson, they commented on the uses of fungi such as in making medicines and food. Pupils said how much they appreciate having an expert come into the school. 'It gives us an idea of what goes on in the real world,' and 'You get a professional view' and 'it makes a change to hear it explained in other ways' were some of the comments."