In this article, the author describes three reports conducted by the National Academies, a private, nonprofit organization whose charter is to assist the federal government and the American people in analyzing pressing science and technology policy issues. These reports are: (1) "Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing…

A main challenge in educating undergraduate students is to introduce them to the Internet and to teach them how to effectively use it in research. To this end, an Internet assignment was developed that introduces students to websites related to biomedical research at the beginning of a biochemistry/molecular biology laboratory course. The basic…

A Learning Support System (LSS) that emphasizes experiential research in natural environments using the cutting-edge technologies of GIS and multimedia has been developed for teaching environmental literacy to undergraduate students at the University of Georgia. Computers are used as cognitive tools to create a context in which students become…

An important learning goal of a molecular biology curriculum is the attainment of a certain competence level in experimental design. Currently, undergraduate students are confronted with experimental approaches in textbooks, lectures and laboratory courses. However, most students do not reach a satisfactory level of competence in the designing of…

The spaces and structures used for undergraduate science often work against new teaching methods and fail to provide environments that attract the brightest students to science. The undergraduate science building often offers little to inspire the imaginations of young minds. The typical undergraduate science building also tends to work against…

The main distinction between the overlapping fields of molecular biophysics and biochemistry resides in their different approaches to the same problems. Molecular biophysics makes more use of physical techniques and focuses on quantitative data. This difference encounters two difficult pedagogical challenges when teaching molecular biophysics to…

Data sharing among multiple lab sections increases statistical power of data analyses and informs student-generated hypotheses. We describe how to collect, organize, and manage data to support replicate and rolling inquiry models, with three illustrative examples of activities from a population-level biology course for science majors. (Contains 1…

A single-semester elective combines Mendelian and molecular genetics in a problem-solving format. Students encounter a genetic disease scenario, construct a family pedigree, and try to confirm their medical diagnoses through laboratory experiences. Encouraged to generate ideas as they test their hypotheses, students realize the importance of data…

For many, the dominant model of curriculum development in science includes generating a topic, clarifying science content, identifying activities associated with the topic, and figuring out an assessment. Unfortunately, this approach tends to overemphasize activities and underemphasize mastery of science concepts and the process of scientific…

This article discusses factors in the design, commissioning, project management, and intellectual property protection of developments within a new clinical anatomy facility in the United Kingdom. The project was aimed at creating cost-effective facilities that would address widespread concerns over anatomy teaching, and support other activities…

Perspectives on the conditions of academic research facilities and the various funding mechanisms proposed for modernizing them are offered in this report on the University Research Facilities Revitalization Act of l985 (H.R. 2823). Major components of this bill include: (l) the creation of a university and college research laboratory…

This Congressional report deals with the role of government laboratories in regional development and state innovation strategies for encouraging entrepreneurship. Included among those persons providing testimony on these two particular aspects of developing entrepreneurship in the United States were representatives of the following agencies and…

Safety hazards that are frequently found in science classrooms are addressed in this digest which updates and supplements the 1980 ERIC/SMEAC information bulletin "Safety in the Science Classroom." Information obtained from journal articles and safety guides is presented in the categories of: (1) risks involved in science activities; (2)…

Suggestions for instructional improvement are offered to science teachers in this compilation of research summaries which addresses specific areas of science education. This series examines the topic areas of: (1) computer use in science instruction (reviewing five categories of computer use which focus on the learner); (2) the role of the…

The fact sheet presents information on science laboratory and classroom access for disabled persons. Suggestions are directed to the high school and postsecondary student, the instructor, and the administrator. Examples are given of disabled scientists, approaches used in various science settings, and disabled students using adapted equipment.…