Vision & Change in Biology Undergraduate Education
Penelope Firth and Linda SlakeyNational Science Foundation
Starting the Conversation
2006
2007
2008
2009
NSF BIO-EHR Working Group charge:
1. Examine and address key issues in biology undergraduate education
2. Recommend strategy and actions
Deborah Allen, EHRPeter Arzberger, BIODondra Bailey, BIO
J. Ellis Bell, BIOCeleste Carter, EHR
Mary Chamberlin, BIOJames Collins, BIO
LaJoyce Debro, BIOPenelope Firth, BIO
Linnea Fletcher, EHRCatherine Fry, EHRElizabeth Gaige, BIO
Brian Gates, EHR
Richard Inouye, BIOGera Jochum, BIOLiz Lawrence, BIO Emily Leichtman, BIODan Litynski, EHRWesley Lumpkin, EHRRick McCourt, BIOAl Savitzky, BIOJudy Skog, BIOLinda Slakey, EHRJessica Slater, EHRDan Udovic, EHRTerry Woodin, EHRKasey Yturralde, BIO
NSF BIO/EHR Working Group
Strategy developed by BIO-EHR Working Group:
1. Conversations – listen for shared vision and the changes needed to achieve it
2. Big Conference – crystallize initiative and partnerships3. Report – articulate the vision, synthesize previous efforts;
recommend changes needed & roles; address sustainability4. Implementation – make investments; implement commitments;
improve communication; leverage feedback loops
Approved by a joint meeting of the BIO Advisory Committee and the EHR Advisory Committee in November 2006
2006
2007
2009
NSF supported regional conversations during 2007-2008 – AAAS facilitation:
211 participants from…community colleges, PUIs,
MSIs, major R1 universities, museums, science centers,
education organizations, other federal agencies, National Academies, field stations,
professional societies…2008
San FranciscoDenver
Chicago Boston
Atlanta
Washington
Image created with Google Maps
Botanical Society of America (BSA)Ecological Society of America (ESA)Genetics Society of America (GSA)Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI)National AcademiesNational Association of Biology Teachers (NABT)Project Kaleidoscope (PKAL)Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB)Society for the Study of Evolution (SSE)
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)American Institute for Biological Sciences (AIBS)
American Physiological Society (APS)American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB)
American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB)American Society for Microbiology (ASM)
American Society for Plant Biologists (ASPB)Biophysical Society
2006
2007
2009
Professional societies & organizations represented at conversations
2008
Photo: Kathy Yturralde
2006
2007
2009
We listened to other inputs during 2007-2009:
•AIBS Biology Education Summit (May 2008)•HHMI Invitational Summit on Undergraduate Biology:
The Role of Disciplinary Societies (Nov 2008)•NSF Advisory Committee meetings
•Biological Sciences•Education & Human Resources•Environmental Research & Education
•NRC reports•National Science Board reports•NSF merit review panel meetings•Professional society meetings
231 student participants from 13 institutions. Convened by participants from the
regional conversations. Some students are HERE!
2006
2007
2009
Mini-conversations during 2009 with undergraduate majors and non-majors to gauge importance of issues to students, discuss potential approaches:
2008
Image created with Google Maps
MAJORBiology – 43%
Other STEM – 31%Humanities – 15%
Arts – 3%Undecided – 9%
We heard elements of an emerging shared vision
Broad Career Horizons
Experiential Learning
Concept Literacy
We heard repeated calls for change
Broad Career Horizons
Experiential Learning
Concept Literacy
Institutions
Curriculum
Tools & Networks
Reward systems
Faculty Development
Critical thinking & Communication
2006
2007
2008
2009Planning for Vision & Change Conference
ChairsCarol A. Brewer – Univ of Montana Alan I. Leshner – AAAS
Members Peter J. Bruns - HHMI Ingrid C. Burke - Univ of Wyoming Alan P. Covich – Univ of Georgia Lynn W. Enquist – Princeton Neuroscience Inst Louis J. Gross - Univ of Tennessee, Knoxville Felicia Keesing - Bard College Jay B. Labov – NAS National Research Council Thomas Pollard –Yale Univ Mary Poss – Pennsylvania State Univ Muriel E. Poston – Skidmore College Robert S. Seville – Univ of Wyoming Daniel Udovic - Univ of Oregon Thomas A. Woolsey – Washington Univ St. Louis Maria Elena Zavala - California State Univ Northridge
THANK YOU to the Steering Committee