Developing practical skills in drug discovery and screening for a diverse student population

When challenged to deliver a science practical class on the topic of drug discovery for a diverse student population reading subjects ranging from anatomy to divinity, it is difficult to ensure the activities are both rigorous and accessible. We created simple but effective scientific tasks to help students understand the challenges extracting potential drugs from natural products. Drug screening was simulated using proprietary drugs to develop student awareness of strengths and limitations of such analytical approaches. Through various iterations, we have found that very simple scientific practical skills are most effective and reliable in delivering an effective student learning experience.