Improving College Intro Biology

American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS)
1444 I (Eye) Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202) 628-1500
http://www.aibs.org/

For Immediate Release: 4 February 2009

Contacts: Ms. Susan Musante, smusante@aibs.org
Dr. Gordon Uno, 405-325-6281, guno@ou.edu

American Institute of Biological Sciences Teams with University of Oklahoma

Washington, DC and Norman, OK. The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded a Research Coordination Network (RCN) grant to the University of Oklahoma to help university and college faculty members improve instruction in introductory biology courses. The American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) will receive a sub-award from the University of Oklahoma to coordinate meetings, and assess and plan an online communication network over the five-year grant period.

The NSF grant will help scientific societies improve science biology teaching and learning. “Preparing to Prepare the 21st Century Biology Student: Using Scientific Societies as Change Agents for the Introductory Biology Experience,” was initiated by Dr. Gordon Uno, chairman of the Department of Botany and Microbiology at the University of Oklahoma and a member of the AIBS Board of Directors. Uno, a recognized leader in science education, is chairman of the AIBS Education Committee.

The project will use scientific societies and their individual members as the key agents of change to reform undergraduate introductory biology. It will produce a shared vision for the future of undergraduate introductory biology education, develop, promote and share effective teaching and learning practices, and coordinate a sustainable communication network to connect the biology education community. These goals will be achieved by bringing together scientists, science educators, and members of biological professional societies through a series of small face-to-face meetings to stimulate innovative ideas about biology education and to outline ways to engage the entire biology education community in reform efforts.