International RNA Summer School:

Organized by Prof. Ruth Sperling, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem Israel, and Prof. Stefan Stamm, University of Kentucky, Lexington USA.

Despite its importance in life sciences, emphasized by RNA viruses and transcript diversity caused by pre-mRNA processing, RNA biology is not fully taught in high school and even often neglected at the graduate level that heavily emphasis DNA-based studies. Taking advantage of the collaboration between a US and Israeli PI, in the summer school we address this lack in knowledge by organizing international summer schools on RNA biology at The Hebrew University, combining lab-work and theoretical lessons.

The summer school will include: a wet-lab teaching fundamental techniques in RNA biology, which is accompanied by a series of 45 min lectures. These lectures are available free as YouTube courses. The lectures are on a graduate student level, but short 5 min summaries will be made with high school students as the intended audience. To foster understanding rather than ‘fact accumulation’, these courses are accompanied by a book “RNA biology- A practical approach”.

The goal of the summer school is to develop a diverse, globally competitive STEM workforce and to enhance the education infrastructure for RNA. The summer school consists of a two-week lab courses that are held every summer at Hebrew University of Jerusalem that has the necessary infrastructure.