Teaching and Learning Science

Sept 18 & 25, Oct 2, 2026

Konstantinos (Kostas) KAMPOURAKIS

Catherine Suarez, CUSO Ecology & Evolution
Corinne Dentan, CUSO StarOmics
Debora Zoia, CUSO Molecular Plant Sciences
Sarah Miéville, CUSO Microbiology

Dr Kostas Kampourakis, UNIGE

Learning objectives:

At the end of this course the students should be able to:
- Apply some basic principles of curriculum development.
- Define learning goals for their own teaching activities.
- Distinguish between learning goals and the teaching approaches used to attain them.
- Choose appropriate and relevant teaching experiences to attain the defined learning goals.
- Design teaching sequences that aim to attain the defined learning goals.
- Design summative assessments that correspond to the defined learning goals (curriculum alignment)
- Develop formative assessments that can be effectively integrated into teaching sequences

About the teacher:

Kostas is the author of multiple widely acclaimed books on science communication and science education. His work focuses on improving the public understanding of evolution and genetics, and on helping learners grasp the nature of science. He sees scholarship as a public service and aims to educate non-experts through clear, accessible writing. His contribution to public understanding of evolution was recognized with the 2024 Friend of Darwin Award from the National Center for Science Education.

At the University of Geneva, he teaches two undergraduate courses-« Biology and Society » and « Understanding Evolution »-and, at the University Teacher Training Institute (IUFE), he teaches a science education course and a research seminar to secondary science teachers. For the CUSO doctoral program, he teaches "Teaching and Learning Science" and "Genomics & Society."

His recent authored books include Trusting Science (Oxford University Press, 2025), Ancestry Reimagined (OUP, 2023), and How we Get Mendel Wrong (Routledge/CRC, 2024), as well as the Cambridge edited collection Darwin Mythology (2024). He is also the Editor of the Cambridge University Press series Understanding Life, and has previously served as Editor-in-Chief of Science & Education and edited multiple major science education publications.

SESSION 1
9:00-12:00 Theory (interactive lecture) Setting learning goals: distinguishing between teaching and learning
SESSION 2
13:00-16:00 Theory (interactive lecture) Selecting learning experiences that are likely to attain learning goals: teaching for learning
vs teaching for teaching

SESSION 3
9:00-12:00 Theory (interactive lecture) Effectively organizing learning experiences: combining different teaching methods and
setting up a curriculum
SESSION 4
13:00-16:00 Theory (interactive lecture) Designing assessments: formative vs summative assessment and curriculum alignment

SESSION 5
9:00-12:00 Bringing it all together: designing teaching for learning Micro-teaching
SESSION 6
13:00-16:00 Presentations and discussion

UNIGE, Sciences II, room 4-449

When?
Sept 18 & 25, Oct 2, 2026 
9:00-12:00 and 14:00-16:00

Where?
University of Geneva - Sciences II 
Quai Ernest-Ansermet 30, 1205 Geneva 4th floor - room 449 (TBC)

Questions?
[email protected]

Travel
PhD students of the CUSO DPEE are eligible for the reimbursement of incurred travel expenses by train (half-fare card, 2nd class). Claims can be done online via MyCUSO when the activity is over.

Registration fees
CUSO members: Free
Others: contact ecologie-evolution(a)cuso.ch

Deadline for registration: 23.08.2026

CUSO members: FREE
Others (MSc and postdocs): Please contact the CUSO coordinator here before registering: ecologie-evolution(at)cuso.ch

Cancellation Policy
In case of cancellations, before the 1st deadline (23.08.2026): free
Late cancellations (after 23.08.2026) or no-show: 50 CHF administrative fee

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