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In a world first, a UWA research centre has turned understanding complicated cell biology into child's play.

The ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology is the proud developer of the world's biggest and bounciest cell: a 10 metre by 13 metre inflated structure which incorporates all the elements needed for the molecular function of plants.

It was the inspired idea of Alice Trend, the centre's science communications officer.

"Harvey (Millar) asked me how we could communicate our complex research to the public, most of which was happening on a microscopic scale inside tiny cells," Ms Trend said. "It's so hard for people to understand and visualise things that they can't see, so I thought, well, we need to make the plant cell huge - big enough so people can get inside it."

It's the stuff of science fiction films but this time the cell has been blown up, not the people shrunk.

"The great thing about Bio-Bounce is that a person can BECOME a part of the cell. You can bounce your way from the ribosome to the mitochondrion or nucleus, just as a protein does. With friends you can recreate a whole sequence of cellular processes.  Then you can REALLY understand how the cell works - and what goes wrong if you do not follow the instructions!"

The giant cell is a unique outreach and education tool that has already been booked for science festivals in Sydney, Canberra and WA's south-west.

Ms Trend designed the cell with 3D animator Robert Mace and manufacturer Michael Steele, from Soxon Inflatables.

The idea behind Bio-Bounce is to have a portable, novel, immersive and exciting way of engaging the public with cell biology. A plant cell has been enlarged one million times so it is big enough for people to walk (and bounce) around in and look at and engage with the components of the cell in context.

The giant cell will explain the roles of chloroplasts, mitochondria, the nucleus, genes and proteins and help people to understand what biologists and cell geneticists study.

"It's a new approach to plant biology education," said Ms Trend, who has worked as a presenter at Canberra's science centre, Questacon, and an exhibition designer at Scitech. "The lack of biology exhibits has always been lamented in science exhibitions."

This giant plant cell will be an educational tool to help the community to understand the secret life of plants, the impact of climate change on plants, understanding where our food comes from, and how genetic modification of crops works.

"We also want to enthuse people about science and to create advocates for science discovery, which will lead to more people studying science, investing in science and supporting science research," she said.

"A picture in a book just can't demonstrate the extraordinary level of activity that goes on in a cell.  We have managed to turn the theoretical - something you could only try to picture in your head - into something that you can get immersed in."

Ms Trend said suites of activities - many of them just one minute long - were being developed to teach both children and adults about the workings of a cell.

"In just one minute, we can explain where photosynthesis happens or how mitochondria work and therefore how they contribute to plant energy systems, plant survival and crop yield. We can do this because it is all there for people to see, touch and explore."

The UWA launch of Bio-Bounce will be at Open Day in August. It will already have been road-tested around the country in a series of events.

Scientists and PhD students from the centre will staff the giant cell and guide visitors through activities and immersive, free-style learning.

"As well as helping people to understand what a cell looks like and what it does, we want to create an inclusive and respectful arena where people can ask their questions about science in a fun and relaxing way. There is enormous potential here for bridging the barriers that limit teaching and learning," Ms Trend said.

Those programs won't be limited to school children.  This is one bouncing experience for which adults will definitely be queuing.