When research reaches the classroom: Sebastian Schlafer went live from the lecture hall
Professor Sebastian Schlafer from the Department of Dentistry and Oral Health recently shared his research live with hundreds of upper secondary school students across Denmark. The initiative provided new insights and ideas on how research can be brought to life beyond the university setting.
Science in society
The University Act requires that researchers, alongside their research and teaching, engage in disseminating their work through so-called knowledge exchange or research-based communication.
“Science in society” is a series of articles about Health researchers who apply their expertise in society in ways that go beyond traditional research communication and expert commentary.
When Professor Sebastian Schlafer was invited to give a livestreamed presentation about his dental health research to students nationwide, he accepted without hesitation.
“I thought it was an exciting challenge,” he says, adding:
“It’s important that young people gain a realistic understanding of what it means to conduct research and why it matters in their daily lives. And, of course, I hope that some of them will be inspired and perhaps consider studying dentistry.”
In his everyday work, Sebastian Schlafer researches the bacteria that live in the mouth - not only those that cause disease, but also those that can be beneficial.
His research focuses on understanding how the balance between beneficial and harmful bacteria influences the development of caries (tooth decay), and how we can prevent disease through a better understanding of oral microbiology.
From the laboratory to the classroom
The livestreamed lectures offered several times a year by Aarhus University are broadcast directly to upper secondary classrooms across the country. Students can follow along in real time and ask questions digitally.
“I stood in a room in front of two cameras and a few technicians, but without a live audience. It’s obviously a very different feeling from seeing the students and sensing the atmosphere in the room,” says Sebastian Schlafer.
Nonetheless, he found that the format worked quite well:
“There were actually quite a few questions coming in during the session, and I had a moderator, one of our own students, who read the questions aloud. That made it feel more like a real lecture,” he explains.
Bacteria in the mouth – friend or foe?
The talk was titled “Bacteria in the mouth – friend or foe?”, and this question served as the focal point of Schlafer’s presentation.
“Most of us think of bacteria as something to fight against. Our entire oral care industry is based on the idea that oral bacteria are harmful. But many of them are, in fact, essential and functional parts of our body. Humans and bacteria live in close interaction. We’re almost like a kind of superorganism,” explains Sebastian Schlafer.
In the presentation, he drew on new research showing how interactions between oral bacteria can influence our health.
“It’s a topic that upper secondary students can easily relate to. Everyone brushes their teeth, but very few reflect on the fact that it’s actually possible to overdo the fight against bacteria. It’s a good way to introduce microbiology in a context that makes sense to students,” says the professor.
Focusing on storytelling rather than data
Making the research accessible to upper secondary students required some adjustments.
“I had to leave out a lot and instead focus on the bigger picture and on telling a story rather than showing detailed data. It’s a bit like writing a short play - you need to construct a narrative that everyone can follow,” explains Sebastian Schlafer.
He also used images and everyday examples to make the material more tangible.
“I think it worked well because the topic is so familiar. Everyone has a mouth, and everyone knows the feeling of standing with a toothbrush and wondering whether they’re doing it right,” he says.
New ideas for future science communication
Although the format worked well overall, Sebastian Schlafer also experienced its limitations.
“You lose the direct contact that naturally occurs when you’re in a room with your audience. I couldn’t see their reactions, which made it difficult to adjust along the way. If I were to do it again, I’d prefer to have a class physically present in the lecture hall,” he says.
Despite the technical challenges, Sebastian Schlafer sees livestreaming as an important tool for the future of science communication.
“It’s a fantastic way to reach many young people at once, including those who live far from the university. If we want to inspire the next generation to take an interest in science and health, we need to meet them where they are,” he says.
“When I can show that something as everyday as oral hygiene involves a complex biological interaction, I think it can spark curiosity. If even just a few students later think: ‘I want to know more about that,’ then it’s all been worth it,” concludes Sebastian Schlafer.
You can read more about the livestreamed lecture initiative for upper secondary schools on the university’s website (only in Danish).
Contact
Professor Sebastian Schlafer
Department of Dentistry and Oral Health, Aarhus University
Email: schlafer@dent.au.dk
Phone: +45 42 97 60 20