ASCB OCTOBER 2009 NEWSLETTER VOLUME 32, NUMBER 10 Myths about Science Education: It Is Broken… Science Education Can We Fix It? Reform by Joan R. Goldberg Page 7 Today scientific education is like American healthcare, profoundly—but not irrevocably—broken. Of course, I’m no early bird or lonely voice in the wilderness making this claim. ASCB Past Science and Art President Bruce Alberts’ voice has been heard loudly and clearly for quite some time, in these pages and that of Science, to name two of many venues. But despite the chorus of influential voices, and Page 19 shining examples of proven approaches, progress has been slow. The average American high school and undergraduate student is more likely to be turned off science than turned on. “Virtual Why should we care? First: Love of science shouldn’t be limited to the privileged few. Second: An understanding of science is critical to making good choices, whether as a patient, consumer, activist, Practicals” or voter. Third: It remains true that if we are not part of the solution, we are part of the problem. Last, and most practically, scientific learning is critical to prepare students for a host of jobs and Enhance challenges that we, as a society, need to fill and meet. Teaching in The Problem Africa Developing ideas, testing hypotheses, evaluating data: Not a bad way to select a medical procedure, Page 28 buy a house, or choose a political candidate, is it? So why then do many students fail to see the Education, continued on page 3 Inside Great News! Science Education Reform 7 All hotels within the housing block have reduced their nightly Public Policy Briefing 11 rates for the ASCB Annual Meeting in San Diego. Visit www. Public Service Award 12 ascb.org/meetings to reserve your room before the November Annual Meeting Program 14 10 deadline. If you already reserved your room through the French Society Awards 16 ASCB official site, these reduced rates will also apply to you— Bernfield, Gilula Awards 16 retroactively. n MAC Poster Judges Wanted 16 Porter Lecture 17 IAC Seeks Volunteers 17 2009 Awardees 18 WICB Column 19 Did You Know...? Dear Labby 22 ASCB Profile 23 n It’s not too late to register for the 49th ASCB Annual Meeting, December 5–9, 2009, in San Textbooks for Africa 25 Diego. InCytes from MBC 26 n Missed the Early Registration deadline? You can still register for the meeting at the regular MBC Survey Results 27 rate at www.ascb.org/meetings from October 2 through December 9. Saturday Subgroups 27 n Hotel rooms are still available. Education Initiative Forum 28 n The deadline for hotel reservations at ASCB’s special room rates is November 10. Make Members in the News 29 your reservations online at www.ascb.org/meetings or by contacting the San Diego Half-Century Fund Donors 29 Accommodating…You! Housing Bureau at (800) 967-4590 U.S./Canada, or (847) 996- Member Gift 29 5875 for international registrants. Grants & Opportunities 30 We’re looking forward to seeing you in San Diego in December! n Calendar 31 FEI Life Sciences The premier provider of 3D ultrastructural imaging solutions for the life sciences. The Tecnai Spirit TEM With the ease of a light microscope, The Tecnai™ Spirit TEM allows for the imaging of biological systems with the resolution needed to answer crucial biological questions. By automating 2D and 3D image acquisition, reconstruction, and visualization procedures, the Tecnai Spirit TEM ensures repeatable, high-quality results. Visit FEI.com/TecnaiSpirit for more information and a list of specific publications empowered by the Tecnai Spirit TEM. Free Life Sciences Webinars Learn about the latest tools for Life Science research and how FEI’s electron microscopy solutions are being used around the world. Current webinars: Bridging the Gap Between Light Microscopy and Electron Microscopy, High-throughput 3D Cellular Imaging, Cryo Transmission Electron Microscopy, and Introduction to Electron Microscopy in the Life Sciences. Visit FEI.com/Webinars for more information and to register. Negative stain preparation of rota virus. Nerve bioposy from a patient with a peripheral neuropathy. See Beyond at FEI.com/LifeSciences © 2009 FEI Company. Photo credit (left) sample courtesy of Cynthia Goldsmith, Center for Disease Control, Altanta, USA. Photo credit (right) sample courtesy of Dr. Wayne Moore and Ms. Susan Shinn, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. 09-305_ASCBNewsletter_Ad_FIN.indd 1 8/11/09 10:45 AM Education, continued from page 1 scientific concepts and research. Transforming The American Society value of scientific training? And why do many these courses from “bridges to nowhere” to for Cell Biology educators fail to teach science in an engaging means of engaging students by spotlighting 8120 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 750 way? what’s relevant to contemporary problems was Bethesda, MD 20814-2762, USA The answers are legion and often repeated: the goal embraced by Karen Oates and Wm. Tel: (301) 347-9300 n Because it’s always been done “this way.” David Burns. The two were honored by ASCB Fax: (301) 347-9310 n Because large lecture classes and fact-based last year for their program, Science Education [email protected], www.ascb.org testing weed out the seriously interested from for New Civic Engagements and Responsibilities Joan R. Goldberg the casually curious. (SENCER). Executive Director n Because teaching biology SENCER courses may be as is typically done at large aimed at nonmajors or offered Officers academic institutions is more as electives, but majors can cost-effective, and researcher- be transformed too. One way Brigid Hogan President Introductory Timothy J. Mitchison President-Elect professors don’t care about to do this is to transform [undergraduate] Bob Goldman Past President teaching…or learning. freshman chemistry, physics, Thoru Pederson Treasurer The last concerns me most biology courses mathematics, and biology Jean E. Schwarzbauer Secretary because it offers the greatest can... demonstrate courses as gateways to various opportunity for change, in majors. At this year’s ASCB Council attitude and action. I suspect the relevance and Annual Meeting (December Pascale Cossart that boring lectures and cookie- 9), David Botstein will discuss excitement of Susan K. Dutcher cutter lab exercises may be Princeton University’s curricula scientific concepts Scott D. Emr more a consequence of time- integrating the computational Joan R. Goldberg, ex officio starved schedules, pedagogical and research. with the biological, while Holly V. Goodson uncertainty, and inertia than Malcolm Campbell will present Kathleen J. Green active resistance. After all, Davidson College’s model, and Paul W. Sternberg Elizabeth Sztul implementing inquiry-based Robert Lue Harvard’s. Clare M. Waterman 1 education requires different A recent Science editorial Fiona M. Watt curricula, teaching techniques, and testing by physicist and Nobel laureate Carl Susan R. Wente mechanisms. Moreover, all should be assessed Wieman, points to still more exciting, tested Susan M. Wick and proven effective, and teachers need to learn approaches…at the course and department Virginia A. Zakian how to use them. level. Both University of British Columbia The ASCB Newsletter Interested? Educators can change their and the University of Colorado, Boulder, is published 12 times per year teaching by baby steps and giant steps. And have incorporated evidence-based teaching by The American Society institutions can improve their learning outcomes methods into most of their undergraduate for Cell Biology. by change at the class, department, and school science courses. These include setting explicit Joan R. Goldberg Editor level. The ASCB Annual Meeting regularly learning goals related to demonstrated student W. Mark Leader Editor spotlights individuals and approaches making a capabilities, using collaborative activities, and Elizabeth M. Rich Production Manager difference; this year’s meeting in San Diego, CA, implementing pre- and postcourse testing to Kevin Wilson Public Policy Director December 5–9, is no exception. assess learning. Ed Newman Advertising Manager John Fleischman Science Writer Thea Clarke Editorial Manager Considering Solutions Innovation in High Schools First, you need to understand the data. On How can you engage high school students? Deadlines for submission of December 5 at the ASCB Annual Meeting, What can you do when your department won’t articles and advertising Northwestern University researchers Gregory discuss the problem, and your principal points materials: Light and Denise Drane will present a workshop to financial woes? Don’t give up! Issue Deadline based on data collected for the 10-year- High school biology fans the initial flame… December November 1 old, carefully evaluated Gateway Science or extinguishes it. A recent report notes that January 2010 December 1 Workshop program. Beyond improving student without high levels of math and science February January 1 performance, the program focuses on class learning for all students, the U.S.—like other ASCB Newsletter experience and retention. countries—won’t prepare our students for ISSN 1060-8982 Is improvement possible? Learn from future demands.2 The report, The Opportunity Volume 32, Number 10 Light and Drane about how to promote peer Equation: Transforming Mathematics and October 2009 mentoring, engage students in conceptual Science Education for Citizenship and the Global © 2009 3 problem solving and collaborative group work, Economy, calls for a few clear, high, common The American Society for Cell Biology foster underrepresented students, and develop standards across the U.S. The standards must Postmaster: Send change of address to: research training in introductory courses. be matched by high-quality assessment; schools ASCB Newsletter The American Society for Cell Biology Introductory biology courses can also must be redesigned to deliver needed education 8120 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 750 demonstrate the relevance and excitement of effectively and equitably. Moreover, teachers Bethesda, MD 20814-2762, USA OCTOBER 2009 ASCB NEWSLETTER 3 must be recruited and prepared differently for Challenging curriculum is also important.