October 14, 2019
The National Science Museum (NSM) of Thailand is working with the Smithsonian Science Education Center—a Washington D.C.-based organization focused on science education for children in grades K–12—to translate its Community Research Guide "Mosquito! How do we ensure health for all from mosquito-borne disease?" into Thai, which is underway so it may be used as a prevention tool in Thailand’s schools. Like the interactive tactic of the Outbreak exhibition at NSM, the hope is that "Mosquito!" (which is made up of 40+ hands-on activities for youth) will engage students in a way that encourages them to experience scientific inquiry, rather than simply reading about it, by providing opportunities for them to get involved in the actual process of conducting work. SSEC is optimistic that innovative mosquito-borne disease awareness practices will be adopted across borders to meet country-specific needs without disrupting the interactive experience. This could mean a focus on malaria in Africa or on Zika in the Caribbean. Thanks to the efforts of public health, science and technology facilitators, organizations such as NSM and the Smithsonian Science Education Center are participating in a transcontinental, collaborative effort in community education and prevention. By working together without boundaries, these organizations are establishing the path to relieving the at-risk population of mosquito-borne disease.
Read more: https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/living-with-infectious-mosquitoes/