“I am passionate about inspiring the next generation”
– Prof. Robert Booy
Omega was birthed with the simple idea.
Can we inspire the next generation of scientists to create the next vaccine which will immunise millions against future deadly, infectious diseases?
Now, more than ever, our students should learn the science of immunisation and ‘Be the Omega‘, the change the world will need.
Meeting the year 9 biological science curriculum components
The lessons have been designed to meet the Year 9 Biological Science Curriculum Components from The Australian National Curriculum.
See more here at The Australian Curriculum.
Biological sciences
Describing how the requirements for life (for example oxygen, nutrients, water and removal of waste) are provided through the coordinated function of body systems such as the respiratory, circulatory, digestive, nervous and excretory systems
Explaining how body systems work together to maintain a functioning body using models, flow diagrams or simulations
Investigating the response of the body to changes as a result of the presence of micro-organisms
Scientific understanding, including models and theories, is contestable and is refined over time through a process of review by the scientific community
Advances in scientific understanding often rely on technological advances and are often linked to scientific discoveries
People use scientific knowledge to evaluate whether they accept claims, explanations or predictions, and advances in science can affect people’s lives, including generating new career opportunities
Values and needs of contemporary society can influence the focus of scientific research
Formulate questions or hypotheses that can be investigated scientifically
Analyse patterns and trends in data, including describing relationships between variables and identifying inconsistencies
About Prof. Robert Booy
Professor Robert Booy is a Senior Professorial Fellow at the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) in Australia where he has worked since March 2005.
He is a medical graduate of the University of Queensland (1984) and trained in Paediatrics at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Brisbane.
He held a range of positions in the UK between 1999 to 2005 including Professor of Child Health with the University of London, Lecturer in Paediatric Infectious Diseases at St Mary’s Hospital London, and Research Fellow with the University of Oxford.
About Omega
Omega is a series of 10 lessons developed to comply with the Australian Biological Science Curriculum requirements available as a free digital learning resource.
It is a remarkable journey into the science of infectious diseases, epidemics and immunisation.
- Learn the science of what infectious diseases do and how vaccines work
- Explore the history and social impacts of infectious disease and vaccines
- Use mathematics and apply critical thinking to prevent disease outbreak
Classroom or home lessons
Innovation and equal access, inspiration for all
This mobile and web based program provides hands-on learning that enables students to see and experience disease from the safety of the classroom.
Students will have unprecedented exposure to infectious disease experts, cutting edge research projects, higher learning, industry groups and companies.
Each lesson contains:
- Short videos of explanations and interviews.
- Relevant theory, examples or background content.
- Short quiz that can be used as testing or discussion questions.