ABSTRACT
The field of microbiology (the study of microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses) has led to significant advances in health and in industrial, agricultural and environmental processes. Although the use of microbiology has a long history in human society (e.g. production of yogurt dates back thousands of years), its inclusion as a significant part of school science curricula is recent. In the past, school students may have learnt about microorganisms as part of classification schemes, for example, but not about their role in improving health through vaccines. The rapidly expanding knowledge base in this area has resulted in some concern about how microbiology should best be taught in school science. For example, there is a perceived concern about safety when students grow and handle microorganisms, and the controversial nature of some human activity related to microorganisms (e.g., germ warfare) is sometimes considered too difficult to manage in the classroom. Yet, it is the complex nature of this topic and the fascinating intersection with human beings and society that provides an opportunity to engage students with school science.
