A l'UM la science [S01-ep06]: From teaching evolution to collecting ornithology

This week, Mathieu Sicard fromIsem and Sylvie Hurtrez from the Mivegec laboratory present Du labo à la classe : l'évolution en action. A pedagogical manual designed with and for SVT teachers in secondary schools. In the second half of the program, Audrey Théron introduces us to the birds in the zoology collection.

From dissecting a cockroach to freezing a woodlouse, or learning about reproduction by studying a sheep's ovary, we all have fond memories of our biology lessons in secondary school. But who can remember coming across the outline of a scientific article on their lab bench?

In November, a group of researchers and teachers of life and earth sciences presented the fruit of three years' joint work: a new kind of teaching manual entitled From lab to classroom: evolution in action. The idea is to integrate resources from scientific articles into the teaching sequences of secondary school pupils, with a focus on the theme of evolution and, more specifically, natural selection.

Mathieu Sicard of theInstitut des sciences de l'évolution de Montpellier (Isem) and Sylvie Hurtrez of the Mivegec laboratory were both involved in this groundbreaking initiative as biology researchers. They are with us today to talk about it.

• Download the "From lab to classroom: evolution in action" manual

In the second half of the program, Audrey Théron, in charge of collections at the University of Montpellier, returns to present the ornithology collection. Head for the basements of the Botany Institute to meet these strange birds.

At UM la science you've got the program, here we go!

Coproduction: Divergence FM / Université de Montpellier
Animation: Lucie Lecherbonnier
Interviews: Aline Périault / Lucie Lecherbonnier
Reporting and editing: Lucie Lecherbonnier
Production: Anna Demeulandre

Listen to the program "A l'UM la science" on Divergence FM 93.9