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