Integrating DNA Technology into the Classroom and the Community through hands-on Enviro-STEM Learning activities

What is BioBarcode?

BioBarcode Australia exists to provide a unique opportunity to bring DNA technology into classrooms and the community. We use real biotech equipment, link it to real science projects feature real scientists as role models for the next generation. Together these provide a unique Enviro-STEM Learning opportunity.

We offer a citizen science species identification project, The Australian Barcode for Life Project, which everyone can get involved with. The project is based around using the DNA of organisms to identify them before we lose them. It’s a fun, practical way of saving our precious biodiversity using of the most crucial coding language for life on earth – DNA.

What Our Students Say

Professional Learning Workshops

BioBarcode offers teachers and laboratory technicians opportunities to train and develop confident skill sets to teach with biotechnology. Our sessions are offered throughout the year, check out our upcoming workshops here!

Latest News

BioBarcode upcoming events

March 11, 2024

BioBarcode will be presenting at or attending the following events in 2024:

Event	Dates	Location
CONASTA 71	07-11 July	Melbourne
National Science Week	10-18 August 2024	Country-wide
STAWA Future Science Conference	Dec 2024	Edith Cowan University, Perth

Do get in contact via the BioBarcode website if you’d like to arrange to meet up at any of them!

BioBarcode created pipette-art at Coogee Live 2024

March 9, 2024

BioBarcode spent a fantastic day with the Harry Butler Institute at the Coogee Live Festival, City of Cockburn, WA, chatting with families about how biotechnology is solving many of our big environmental problems. Our unique pipette art kits captivated the young minds – the budding ‘Harry Butlers’ – as they discovered the joy of painting using mini pipettes.

BioBarcode at STAWA Future Science Conference 2023

December 1, 2023

BioBarcode attended STAWA event Dec 2023. There was a presentation session & a display including our research grade equipment.

Free Resources

MiniPCRBio

A very large part of BioBarcode’s existence is thanks to the innovative, research grade portable equipment designed and manufactured by MiniPCR Bio. The thermocyclers (PCR machines) and the BlueGel Electrophoresis tanks have offered a user friendly way to teach molecular biology that mimics how real scientists work in the lab. This website is full of fantastic resources for teachers! Tutorials, videos, Case Studies – the list goes on! These guys wanted to make DNA technologies accessible for everyone and they really are succeeding.

iNaturalist Australia (App)

iNaturalist Australia is a top tool for environmental discovery that allows you to explore and contribute to biodiversity knowledge. Your findings, once uploaded, support global scientific efforts by joining the Atlas of Living Australia (ALA) and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility’s databases. NB: You are required to register for full access to this app and its aimed at an adult audience because of privacy and security issues. iNaturalist’s free app SEEK does not require full registration, so is therefore more suitable for younger audiences. [This app is extensively used for BioBarcode’s ABFL Citizen Science project]

In2Science

In2science places STEM university students into high schools as peer mentors, explaining Australian curriculum-linked topics for high school students. We do love great role-model science ambassadors!