AIBS Education Reports 3

Teaching Introductory Biology? Participate in Professional Development Webinars

Join us in a series of monthly professional development webinars offered by AIBS, National Association of Biology Teachers, University of California Museum of Paleontology, and the RCN-UBE Introductory Biology Project to support undergraduate educators teaching introductory biology. Each webinar in the series will offer information about a great teaching resource or pedagogical technique and provide the opportunity to interact with resource providers and your colleagues about successful teaching strategies. Visit www.aibs.org/events/webinar to learn more.

Resources to Teach about Evolution in Extreme Environments

The National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent) and AIBS cosponsored the sixth annual evolution symposium, “Evolution in Extreme Environments,” at the 2009 National Association of Biology Teachers professional development conference. The event featured presentations on evolution in four different extreme environments: high altitudes, deep sea, caves, and Arctic ice. All of the presentations, including audio and visual of the speakers and their slides, are now available on the NESCent website (www.nescent.org/media/NABT.php#nabt2009). There you can access the presentations as well as the educational resources compiled for symposium participants. The next symposium will take place at the 2010 NABT conference.

New in ActionBioscience.org

There are two new articles in ActionBioscience.org. “The Future of Marine Fish Resources,” by J. Emmett Duffy, outlines the potentially catastrophic issue that society faces as marine species get closer to becoming extinct and possible actions that, if taken, can address this issue. To read the article, visit www.actionbioscience.org/biodiversity/duffy.html. In “Darwin’s Deliberations about Origin of Species,” author John Buckeridge shares insights into the pressures and anguish Charles Darwin felt prior to the decision to publish his seminal work. To read the article, visit www.actionbioscience.org/evolution/buckeridge.html. Both articles link to additional resources for learning more about the issues or for getting involved.

New in BioScience

Susan Musante, AIBS Education Programs Manager, writes about using DNA barcoding in the classroom in the January 2010 issue of BioScience. The complete article is freely accessible through University of California Press Journals on Caliber (http://caliber.ucpress.net/doi/full/10.1525/bio.2010.60.1.4) or on the AIBS website (http://www.aibs.org/eye-on-education/eyeoneducation201001.html). Here is an excerpt from “DNA Barcoding Investigations Bring Biology to Life”:

When Sophia Cuprillnilson walked into her undergraduate genetics class in the fall of 2008, little did she realize that her perception of biology would be transformed forever. “I thought I was going to be learning about Mendel and peas,” she said. Instead, Cuprillnilson and her classmates became DNA detectives, sent out in pairs to collect samples of fish from local restaurants. Back in the lab at Nova Southeastern University’s Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences in Florida, they extracted DNA, created primers, and analyzed the sequences to determine whether consumers were really getting the species described on the menu.

Submit a Proposal for the NABT Professional Development Conference

The deadline for submitting a proposal to present at the National Association of Biology Teacher’s Professional Development Conference is March 15, 2010. Anyone interested in leading a special workshop has until February 15, 2010, to submit a proposal. The conference will take place in Minneapolis, MN, from November 3-6, 2010. For complete requirements, visit www.nabt.org/websites/institution/index.php?p=10.

TIEE Seeking Submissions of Experiments and Issues

The editors of Teaching Issues and Experiments in Ecology (TIEE, http://tiee.ecoed.net) are currently seeking submissions of experiments and issues for the next volume. Submissions undergo review, and if accepted, become a part of a peer-reviewed publication of educational materials offered through ESA. Submissions will be accepted on an ongoing basis until November 15, 2010. Anticipated time between submission and initial decision is six weeks. For more details on the submission process and templates for submission, visit http://tiee.ecoed.net/misc/submit.html. If you have any questions, please contact Christopher Beck, lead editor: TIEESubmissions@esa.org.

Symposium to Address Retention of Female Scientists

Women Evolving Biological Sciences, or WEBS, is three-day symposium on the retention of female biologists and the transition of women from early career stages to tenure track positions and leadership roles in academic and research settings. It will take place October 24-27, 2010, in Seattle, WA. WEBS targets early career women in ecology and evolutionary biology, particularly women who have earned their doctoral degrees within the past two to eight years and who do not have tenure, to address the critical transition from graduate studies and postdoctoral positions to permanent research and teaching positions. The symposium provides a forum for professional development, including awareness and improvement of academic leadership skills, opportunities to establish mentoring relationships, and resources for developing professional networks. Please visit the website, www.webs.washington.edu, for details and application materials. Applications are due April 15, 2010.

Call for Proposals

National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis: The National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS), a research center of the University of California, Santa Barbara, accepts applications for Working Groups, Center Fellows (sabbatical visitors), Postdoctoral Associates, and Distributed Graduate Seminars. NCEAS stimulates cultural shifts in collaboration, synthesis, and education and promotes the analysis and synthesis of scientific data across many ecology-related disciplines. NCEAS promotes training at all levels. Graduate students in the United States and South Africa participate in distributed, web-based, collaborative seminars where they learn the concepts and data-sharing tools to synthesize information across geographic areas or habitat types. NCEAS is home to an international and interdisciplinary team of scientists committed to fostering a diverse community of ecologists. The next deadline is June 2010. For complete details, visit www.nceas.ucsb.edu/rfp.
National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis: The National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is now taking applications for an eight-week-long summer research program for undergraduates (REU) and veterinary students (REV) interested in work at the interface between biology and mathematics. Disease modeling, population dynamics, biodiversity, and climate change are among this year’s research topics. Undergraduate majors in biology, math, and related fields will work as teams with UTK faculty; some teams will include veterinary students or high school teachers. A stipend and housing are provided, along with some funding for travel. The deadline for applications is February 19, 2010. The program takes place June 7 to July 30, 2010. To apply and for more information, go to www.nimbios.org, or contact Sarah Duncan, NIMBioS Education and Outreach Coordinator (sduncan7@utk.edu), or Suzanne Lenhart, NIMBioS Associate Director of Education, Outreach, and Diversity (lenhart@math.utk.edu).

Call for Applications: Undergraduate Diversity at the Evolution Meetings

Undergraduate students are invited to apply for the Undergraduate Diversity at SSE/SSB Program. Twenty-five students from throughout the United States and Puerto Rico will be selected to receive travel, registration, food, and accommodations to present a poster at the Evolution meetings, June 25-29, in Portland, OR. Students will receive mentoring from graduate students, postdocs, and faculty and participate in two events: the Diversity Social and a career-oriented Undergraduate Futures in Evolutionary Biology panel and discussion. The application deadline is March 1, and applications from all undergraduates are welcome. In past years NESCent has received fewer applications than can be funded, therefore all are encouraged to apply. Program overview and eligibility requirements can be found here: www.oeb.harvard.edu/faculty/edwards/community/application.html. An online application is here: www.nescent.org/eog/signup_evolution2010diversity.php. The program is also in search of graduate students, postdocs, and faculty members who would like to serve as mentors during the meetings. Contact Richard Kliman at rmkliman@cedarcrest.edu if you are interested in serving as a mentor and Jory Weintraub at jory@nescent.org will all other questions.

Chat with Carl Zimmer and Chris Mooney

Authors Chris Mooney and Carl Zimmer will join AIBS for a virtual book party webinar to discuss their most recent books. AIBS will provide participants with a chance to interact with these two exceptional science writers. Plus, participants can win copies of Mooney’s Unscientific America: How Scientific Illiteracy Threatens our Future and Zimmer’s The Tangled Bank: An Introduction to Evolution. Checkout these featured books in the AIBS Webstore. Registration for the virtual book party is free but space is limited. Register now!
http://www.aibs.org/events/webinar/aibss-1st-virtual-book-party.html

Opportunities

New Joint Membership: AIBS and NABT AIBS and the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) are proud to announce a new membership opportunity designed for those individuals who are both biological researchers and educators. This new membership category will allow joint members to take advantage of resources that address their different professional needs, including digital access to both organizations’ journals. For more information about this special membership opportunity or to enroll, please visit www.joinaibsnabt.org.

AIBS Webinar to Help Science Students, Young Professionals Explore Career Options in Science Policy Are you a student or early-career professional interested in an alternative science career? Have you ever thought that a career in science policy or public affairs might be right for you? If so, an upcoming webinar hosted by AIBS could help you weigh your options. Interest has been growing in employment that allows individuals to apply their scientific skills and training to the resolution of societal problems. Whether your expertise is in education, health, environment, or the nation’s investment in scientific research, a public policy career is one way you can convert your education into action. This webinar, taking place on Monday, December 21st, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, is intended to help viewers understand the pros and cons of a career in science policy and the knowledge, skills, and experiences that are required to be successful in science policy and public affairs. Registration is required. See www.aibs.org/events/webinar/science-careers.html for information and registration.

Registration Now Open for 2010 USA Biology Olympiad Take advantage of this opportunity to challenge your outstanding students and become part of the USA Biology Olympiad, jointly sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) and Purdue University. The competition ultimately selects four students as “Team USA” to represent our nation at the International Biology Olympiad. Last year, for the third year in a row, Team USA returned home from the International Biology Olympiad with four gold medals. The team hopes to capitalize on this success in 2010. For additional information, the program schedule, and online registration, please visit www.cee.org or contact Marcy Reedy, at mreedy@cee.org or 703-448-9062.

Encyclopedia of Earth’s Student Science Communication Project The Student Science Communication Project (SSCP) is a science writing initiative in which undergraduate and graduate students, with the guidance of faculty members, develop writing skills through the preparation of articles for publication in the Encyclopedia of Earth (EoE). For more information on the project, a subset of student articles, ideas on how others have tailored the SSCP for use in their own courses, and a Teacher’s Guide, visit www.eoearth.org/article/StudentScienceCommunication_Project or contact Emily Monosson, SSCP coordinator, at emonosson@verizon.net.

Resources for the Classroom

What is the impact of climate change and ocean acidification the world’s coral reefs? In “Coral Reefs under Stress,” Peter J. Mumby, University of Exeter, UK, provides an update of the current science and explains why coral reefs are critical to an ocean’s health: www.actionbioscience.org/environment/mumby.html.

What is the CDC doing to prevent food-borne disease, and what new strategies are being used to investigate outbreaks? In “Investigating Food-Borne Illness,” Robert Tauxe of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shares insights and updates about detecting and preventing food-borne illness: www.actionbioscience.org/newfrontiers/tauxe.html.

How are you going to mark the final month of the Year of Science? Celebrate the beneficial connections between advances in science and improved human health. To join the end-of-year festivities, visit www.yearofscience2009.org/themes_health/celebrate/.

Special Announcement

National Search for Science Faculty with Education Specialties (SFES) A group of Science Faculty with Education Specialties (SFES) is seeking to identify other SFES across the nation to participate in a collaborative professional community. SFES are defined as those who (1) have been specifically hired in science departments to specialize in science education or (2) have transitioned to a role as a science faculty member focused on issues in science education after their initial hire. A collaborative research team of SFES conducted and published an initial study of SFES in the California State University system. That study was recently published in Science magazine (visit http://sepal.sfsu.edu/about-sfes.html). From this study, it became clear that there is a need for a greater understanding of SFES across the nation. As a result, a national SFES search is now underway. Beyond a national research study of SFES, the long-term goals are to foster a national SFES professional community and to promote cross-disciplinary SFES conversations. If you are an SFES or think you might be, please complete a brief, 3 to 5 minute survey: www.surveymonkey.com/National-SFES-Search.

From the Journals

New in BioScience: To celebrate the 150th anniversary this month of the publication of On the Origin of Species, BioScience magazine is offering open access to two peer-reviewed articles about Charles Darwin and his historic insights into evolution:

“Ten Myths about Charles Darwin,” by Kevin Padian of the University of California, Berkeley, which appeared in the October issue, http://caliber.ucpress.net/doi/full/10.1525/bio.2009.59.9.10
“The Darwinian Revelation: Tracing the Origin and Evolution of an Idea” by James T. Costa of Western Carolina University, published in the November issue, http://caliber.ucpress.net/doi/full/10.1525/bio.2009.59.10.10

New in CBE Life Science Education: Peter Armbruster, Maya Patel, Erika Johnson, and Martha Weiss share their experiences and the outcomes of an introductory biology course redesign in “Active Learning and Student-centered Pedagogy Improve Student Attitudes and Performance in Introductory Biology.” Found in the fall 2009 issue: CBE Life Sci Educ 2009: 203-213. www.lifescied.org/cgi/content/full/8/3/203

Upcoming Events

February 25-27, 2010—Council on Undergraduate Research Dialogues, Washington, DC. The Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) Dialogues is designed to bring faculty and administrators to Washington, DC, to interact with federal agency program officers and other grant funders. Workshops and plenary sessions will inform participants about grant opportunities in research and education, both new and ongoing; assist faculty in learning how to find new funding opportunities; and assist faculty in developing grant proposal writing skills. www.cur.org/10curdialogues/10cd.html

March 10-12, 2010—3rd Annual SoTL Commons Conference, Statesboro, GA. The 3rd annual Scholarship on Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Commons Conference will take place at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro. The conference brings together people engaging in SoTL and anyone wanting to improve student learning outcomes in higher education today. http://academics.georgiasouthern.edu/ijsotl/conference/2010/index.htm

March 17, 2010—The 2010 NSRC National Science Education Leadership Development Forum: Designing Effective K-12 Science Education Professional Development Programs, Philadelphia, PA. The forum will provide an opportunity to share research on effective methods and a landscape of current programs related to K-12 science education professional development. The event will also include a special reception to celebrate the National Science Resources Center’s 25 years of excellence in science education. www.nsrconline.org

March 20-24, 2010—National Association for Research in Science Teaching Annual International Conference, Philadelphia, PA. The theme of the 2010 annual international conference of NARST is “Research into Practice: Practice Informing Research” and will be held at the Philadelphia Downtown Marriott. www.narst.org/annualconference/2010conference.cfm

May 20-23, 2010—17th Annual ASM Conference for Undergraduate Educators, San Diego, CA. The 2010 ASMCUE’s theme is “One Health, One Earth: A Sustainable Future” and the conferences will focus on sustainability of the planet as well as sustaining students in the biological sciences. Information about housing, registration, and abstract submissions is available at www.asmcue.org.

June 14-17, 2010—Biology Scholars Transitions Residency, Washington, DC. The Transitions Residency, planned for 2010, seeks biologists who are transitioning from science education research to science education publishing. The 2010 Transitions Residency begins with the Transitions: Science Education Research to Publishing Institute, planned for June 14-17, in Washington, DC. Application deadline is February 1, 2010. www.biologyscholars.org

June 19-22, 2010—Council on Undergraduate Research National Conference, Ogden, UT. The 2010 CUR National Conference will take place at Weber State University, and its theme will be “Undergraduate Research as Transformative Practice.” www.cur.org/conferences/weber/cur10natconf.asp.

July 14-17, 2010—Biology Scholars Research Residency, Washington, DC. The Research Residency seeks biologists who are asking questions about the effectiveness of their teaching approaches. The 2010 Research Residency begins with the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Institute, planned for July 14-17, in Washington, DC. Application deadline is March 1. www.biologyscholars.org

Live Webcast of "Evolution in Extreme Environments" Symposium

Anyone unable to attend this year’s National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) conference in Denver can still participate in the fifth annual evolution symposium, cosponsored by the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) and the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent). Educators and students are encouraged to tune in to the live webcast on Friday, November 13th, from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm, MST, to watch all or part of the symposium. Take advantage of this opportunity to hear internationally renowned researchers discuss their fascinating, cutting-edge work in “extreme” evolutionary biology. Speakers will talk about how life evolves, adapts, and flourishes in some of the most extreme environments on Earth, such as at high altitude, in the deep sea, under arctic ice, and in caves. Viewers, including students in classrooms all over the world, will be able to submit questions online and have the speakers respond in real time. For full program information, including speaker names, talk titles and times, and the link to view the live webcast, please visit www.nescent.org/NABT09Webcast.php or contact eog@nescent.org.

ActionBioscience.org User Survey Now Online and Hispanic ActionBioscience.org Website Launched

Is the information on ActionBioscience.org of value to you? What do you prefer to read, teach, or study? How can we better meet your needs? Please tell us by participating in our visitor survey. An extended questionnaire is available for educators who want to help us develop resources that benefit both student learning and professional development. Visit www.actionbioscience.org/2009-survey.html.

AIBS has launched a Hispanic mirror site of its award-winning education website at ActionBioscience.org/esp/. The Spanish-language site makes the scientific articles and interviews of ActionBioscience.org accessible to Spanish speakers worldwide, so that they can more readily grasp the content in their native tongue. AIBS is pleased to provide this option and increase access to stories about current issues in biology. A survey is available at ActionBioscience.org to help gauge visitor response to the new Hispanic mirror site and its features. Users can access the survey from the home page, or go directly to www.actionbioscience.org/esp/encuesta.html.

Science Zine-a-thon Contest

Biology educators and their students are invited to participate in the Year of Science (YoS) 2009 Science Zine-a-thon Contest. A science zine (pronounced “zeen”) is a mini-magazine that is eight pages long and can fit in the palm of your hand. Choose a science topic from one of the YoS themes and create a zine on that topic using a single, specially folded sheet of 8½ x 11-inch paper. Prizes will be awarded to noteworthy zines, and all submissions must be postmarked by November 15, 2009, to qualify. To get the full details about the contest and the prizes, go to www.yearofscience2009.org/about/zine-contest.html.

New NABT Outreach Coordinator and Informal Educator Member Section

Every year, thousands of students and teachers benefit from unique learning opportunities designed by “teachers without classrooms.” To better serve this community of biology teachers, NABT has created its new Outreach Coordinator and Informal Educator Member Section. The NABT Professional Development Conference is also presenting a special afternoon session to address the unique challenges posed by non-classroom settings. At the session, National Science Foundation (NSF) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) program officers will highlight funding opportunities, details on obtaining funding will be discussed in informal breakout sessions, and a special section business meeting will be held. This session takes place on Wednesday, November 11th, from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm. Please visit www.nabt.org/websites/institution/index.php?p=534 for more information.

American Journal of Botany Publishes Articles on Advancing Scientific Literacy

The Botanical Society of America (BSA) will make a series of papers available for free in the October issue of the American Journal of Botany. The papers are based on a symposium, held during BSA’s 2008 annual meeting, about scientific literacy and advancing public understanding and awareness of science. At the symposium, Marshall Sundberg discussed the PlantingScience initiative developed by the BSA (www.plantingscience.org); Gordon Uno showed how developing botanical literacy among our students can contribute to scientific literacy; Judith Scotchmoor illustrated how she and her colleagues have developed educational outreach and resources for helping teachers teach the process of science to their students; and Matthew Nisbet and Dietram Scheufele each discussed different aspects of science communication and the public. The papers based on these presentations, along with an introduction by Christopher Haufler and Marshall Sundberg, are currently available online in the AJB Advance Access at http://www.amjbot.org/papbyrecent.dtl.