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  • arya djodipati posted an update 7 years, 6 months ago

    Critical Conversations: The 2008 Biology Education Summit
    On 15 and 16 May, 77 invitees, selected for their ability to effect change in biology education, met in Washington, DC, for the 2008 Biology Education Summit. They came to hear updates from leaders in the biology education reform movement; discuss ways to move reform efforts forward; and share ideas, programs, and resources. The purpose of the 2008 Biology Education Summit was to gather input on the broad challenges to undergraduate biology education reform and to provide assistance and resources for societies to move forward with their own initiatives.
    Preparing students
    AIBS President Rita Colwell, professor at the University of Maryland–College Park and former NSF director, spoke about critical scientific workforce issues in the United States today. The number of people entering the fields of science, mathematics, and engineering is dwindling, and workforce demographics remain virtually unchanged while the US population grows more ethnically and racially diverse. Mathematics is a foundation for all sciences, and the advanced mathematical concepts currently taught at the middle- and high-school levels need to be taught earlier, according to current hypothese.
    The Ecological Society of America (ESA) program SEEDS: Strategies for Ecology Education, Development, and Sustainability (www.esa.org/seeds) implements similar methods o diversify the science workforce. Teresa Mourad, director of ESA’s Education and Diversity Programs, shared key aspects of their program for underrepresented minority students who are interested in ecology. These include research fellowships, field trips, campus ecology clubs, mentoring at the ESA annual meeting, and an active support network.
    New tools
    Online social networking and electronic-based resources are increasingly being used to enhance student understanding and interest in biology. To gain a deeper understanding of the nature of science, students must delve into questions and communicate with others about their research. Sam Donovan agrees that using technology merely as a vehicle to provide content misses an opportunity to revolutionize biology teaching and learning. The online materials are readily adaptable and give students experience doing what scientists do:identifying research.