CONFERENCE AGENDA
Session Leaders/Advisory Board
Transforming Undergraduate Biology Education:
Mobilizing the Community for Chang
July 15 – 17, 2009
Grand Hyatt Washington DC Hotel
Convened by the American Association for the Advancement of Science with support from the Directorates for Biological Sciences and for Education and Human Resources
National Science Foundation
WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2009
5:30 p.m.
Welcoming Plenary Session I – Independence A Ballroom
Welcome and Objectives for the Conference by Conference Co-Chairs
Dr. Alan I. Leshner, CEO of AAAS and Executive Publisher of Science, and Dr. Carol Brewer, Associate Dean and Professor, University of Montana
Introduction by Dr. Cora B. Marrett, Acting Deputy Director, National Science Foundation
Welcome to Conference by Dr. Arden L. Bement, Jr., Director, National Science Foundation [PDF]
“Starting the Conversation” by Dr. Penelope Firth, Deputy Director, Division of Environmental Biology, NSF, and Dr. Linda L. Slakey, Director, Division of Undergraduate Education, NSF [PPT]
Introduction by Dr. Wanda E. Ward, Acting Assistant Director, Directorate for Education and Human Resources, NSF
Plenary Address by Dr. Alan Leshner, “Call to Action for Transforming Undergraduate Biology Education”
Invitation to the Poster Sessions by Dr. Carol Brewer
7:00 p.m.
Reception and Poster Session I — Independence F, G, H, I and Franklin Square Rooms
Meet and mingle with the colleagues with whom you will be working throughout Conference. View posters and enjoy a buffet dinner and cash bar.
9:00 p.m.
Poster Session Closes for the Day
THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2009
7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
Continental Breakfast – Independence Foyer
8:00 a.m.
Plenary Session II – Independence A Ballroom
Panel Discussion with Moderated Question and Answer Follow up: “Transforming Biology Education in the Academy – Creating Cultural Change”
Welcome and Introduction to Plenary by Dr. Shirley M. Malcom, Director, Education and Human Resources Programs, AAAS
Moderator:
Dr. Alice S. Huang, President-Elect of AAAS and Senior Faculty Associate in Biology, California Institute of Technology
Panelists:
Dr. John K. Haynes, Dean, Division of Science and Mathematics, Morehouse College [PPT]
Dr. Elaine A, Johnson, Director, Bio-Link, City College of San Francisco [PPT]
Dr. Joan F. Lorden, Provost and Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs, University of North Carolina Charlotte [PPT]
Dr. Muriel E. Poston, Dean of Faculty and Professor of Biology, Skidmore College
Dr. William B. Wood, Distinguished Professor of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Emeritus, University of Colorado Boulder [PPT]
Charge to the Working Groups by Dr. Carol Brewer
10:00 a.m.
Break – Independence Foyer
10:15 a.m.
Organizational Meeting of Working Groups
Noon
Lunch Plenary Session – Independence A
Plenary Address by Dr. James P. Collins, Assistant Director, Directorate for Biological Sciences, NSF, “Does the biology you teach reflect the biology you do?” [PPT] [PDF]
Video Message, Dr. Bruce M. Alberts, Editor-in-Chief, Science, Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, and President Emeritus of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences [Video]
1:30 p.m.
Break and Transition back to Working Groups
1:45 p.m.
Second Session of Working Groups
3:45 p.m.
Break
4:00 p.m.
Working Groups Meet as a Whole Group
5:30 p.m.
Reception and Poster Session II
8:00 p.m.
Poster Session Closes & Poster Removal & Dinner on Your Own
FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2009
7:00 – 8:00 a.m.
Continental Breakfast
8:00 a.m.
Last Meeting of Working Groups
9:00 a.m.
Plenary Session III – Independence A Ballroom
Welcome and Reports from the Working Groups [PPT]
Order of Presentations
Student Experiences As Biology Majors
Theme I: Goals of Biology Undergraduate Education
1. Overarching and unifying key concepts and competencies
Group A – Introductory biology
Group B – Quantitative competency
Group C – Life sciences major
Theme II: Classroom Practices Designed to Achieve those Goals (Using Newly Developed Resources and Knowledge to Promote Learning)
2. Student-centered learning
3. Assessing student learning
4. Innovations in integrating scientific research experiences across the curriculum
Theme III: Ways to Bring About Change – Change Agents
5. Toolkits to support the change
6. Implementing innovations and assessing their impact
7. Preparing future faculty
8. Changing institutional approaches
10:15 a.m.
Synthesis for Action – Independence A Ballroom
Dr. Felicia Keesing, Associate Professor of Biology, Bard College [PPT]
10:45 a.m.
Opportunities for Funding – Independence A Ballroom
Moderated by Dr. Alan I. Leshner
National Science Foundation
Dr. James P. Collins and Dr. Linda L. Slakey [PPT]
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Dr. Peter J. Bruns, Vice President, Grants and Special Programs
National Institutes of Health
Dr. Clifton A. Poodry, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, Division of Minority Opportunities in Research
11:30 a.m.
Next Steps and Charge to the Community – Independence A Ballroom
Dr. Carol Brewer and Dr. Alan I. Leshner
Noon
Conference Adjourns