Penicillin
Penicillin culture vessels
Details: Penicillin, the Wonder Drug [pdf] / Science programme leaflet [pdf]
Key Stage: 4 and 5
Length: 1-2 hours (adaptable)
Maximum number: See Planning a visit
This facilitated session uses the Museum’s collection of objects and archive material to explore the story of the development of the antibiotic, penicillin. This includes the work of Florey and Chain on the isolation and production of penicillin in wartime Oxford which initially saved the lives of thousands of soldiers wounded on the battlefield and led to the development of antibiotics in medicine.
After an introduction to the story of penicillin, students will be guided through a series of activities designed to draw out various themes and controversies which help to build an understanding of the social and historical factors involved in scientific developments. These activities include an exercise in sequencing and deconstructing historical images, a discussion supported by extracts from a documentary film, and a summary of key ideas.
This session can be adapted to consider ethical questions surrounding the development of modern medicines and may be of particular interest to students aiming to study medicine or pharmacology.
Early penicillin experiments
