Biology Education

1. Daniel Pinkham
Nurturing Discovery:
Biology Education for the 21st Century
A Strategic Plan for the NSF Biological Sciences Directorate
BIO Advisory Committee Meeting – November 2004

2. Goals
Broad Career Horizons – to provide a science-based education with a
renewed focus on preparing students for broad career horizons.
Experiential Learning – to engage students in research experiences so that
they learn as researchers learn.
Biosphere Literacy – to improve the ability for people to use information
about the biological systems of the natural world in daily life.
Biology Education for the 21st Century
Priorities to Build Capacity
Integration
Increased Diversity
Curriculum Reform
Mentor Training

3. The Six Big Questions
How should existing and planned BIO activities be judged?
Should we change the vertical balance of our investments?
Where should partnerships be pursued?
What new activities should be considered to address voids in our portfolio?
What undercapitalized activities should be enhanced?
Where should we step back and get independent evaluations and advice?
These questions were used to organize
recommendations
Biology Education for the 21st Century

4. The Recommendations – 1 of 2
How should existing and planned BIO activities be judged?
Program tracking and planning
Should we change the vertical balance of our investments?
Enhance weaker parts of portfolio
Where should partnerships be pursued?
E HR; other directorates, agencies and institutions
Biology Education for the 21st Century

5. The Recommendations – 2 of 2
What new activities should be considered to address voids in our portfolio?
Discovery Communities; Community College Educators;
Year of UG Research; Integrative Leadership
Fellowships
What undercapitalized activities should be enhanced?
Mentoring & Mentor Training; RET-Sites; LTER
Schoolyard
Where should we step back and get independent evaluations and advice?
Curriculum Reform; Minority HS Students; CRUI &
UMEB; DDIG
Biology Education for the 21st Century

6. Early Actions
LTER Schoolyard Science – modest budget increase planned for FY05
HS Students in Research Settings - Planning for workshop
Community college faculty - Dear Colleague Letter; Research Opportunity
Awards
Partnerships – plans to seek near-term common objectives with E HR
Biology Education for the 21st Century

7. Future Considerations
 ‘Bundling’of recommendations
 Timing – how near-term actions enable and constrain longer-range
plans
 Coordination and partnering opportunities
 Integration with objectives for Broadening Participation
Biology Education for the 21st Century

8. BIO Senior Management Education Strategy Retreat
for
Planning and implementation
Biology Education for the 21st Century
Next Steps

9. Biology Education for the 21st Century
Thank you for your input and support!