Keep up with what other groups are working on through the Summer Institute Blog:
The QUBES blog.
BioQUEST receives $493,000 from U.S. National Science Foundation to advance open education computational and data-centric resource ecosystems in undergraduate biology education. Award supports BioQUEST’s commitment to improve data literacy and accessibility to scientific tools.BioQUEST Curriculum Consortium received a $493,000 award from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Coordination Networks for Undergraduate Biological Education (RCN-UBE) Program. Through this funding, BioQUEST will enhance access to resources and tools that improve scientific literacy, aiming to help dismantle barriers for underrepresented students. Despite the importance of data literacy and access to advanced biological computer tools and databases, many students do not have opportunities to use contemporary tools in their biology courses. BioQUEST will address this gap by creating a network that consolidates existing open science and education resources for undergraduate educators, increasing accessibility for diverse institutions and student populations. The network focuses on four key areas: high-performance computing, the utilization of scientific data, modeling and simulation, and interactive data tools. “We are deeply honored to receive funding from the National Science Foundation,” said Dr. Sarah Prescott, BioQUEST Executive Director. “This grant enables us to advance the availability of data science and open education resources, which are critically needed to expand opportunities for students and empower marginalized learner communities. We are excited to offer the tools that will inspire the next generation of biologists.”With accessibility at the forefront of all efforts, the coordinated resources and activities will employ a shared framework addressing a variety of technical, social and professional challenges faced by faculty as they integrate computational and data-rich instructional practices in their biology courses. Initiatives include providing scalable classroom access to computational resources, supporting research interoperability and data literacy, building a like-minded community and embedding cybertraining within an open education ecosystem. About the NSF Research Coordination Networks for Biological Education (RCN-UBE) Program The NSF RCN-UBE program supports networks to link research discoveries with innovations in biology education to improve the learning environment in undergraduate biology classrooms. Included in this is the exchange of information and resources, the integration of research and education activities for biologists/educators around topics of common interest and building a sense of community – all of which align with BioQUEST’s mission and vision.Launching on October 15, 2024, BioQUEST formed an expert-led steering committee and plans to issue formal invitations for partners and undergraduate faculty to join in early 2025. Learn more about the project at oee.qubeshub.org.To view and download the full press release, click here.For more information about BioQUEST, the grant or the programming, please visit the following:Project Website: oee.qubeshub.orgBioQUEST Website: bioquest.orgQUBES Platform: qubeshub.orgEmail: info@bioquest.orgTwitter: @bioquested | Facebook:@bioquested | Instagram: @bioquested
Read More ›BioQUEST Curriculum Consortium was awarded grant funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) as part of their inaugural innovation in two-year college in STEM education program.The funding will support BioQUEST as a proven convener, leading to accelerated leadership, networking and funding opportunities for two-year STEM faculty. BioQUEST Curriculum Consortium has been awarded $99,700 to build leadership capacity, supportive communities and funding knowledge among two-year college STEM faculty. This inaugural investment from NSF will support their Innovation in Two-Year College in STEM Education (ITYC) program, aiming to advance innovative, evidence-based practices at two-year colleges across the nation in STEM education. Two-year colleges are essential to the post-secondary STEM education landscape, serving diverse student populations, offering accessible degree pathways, and being widely distributed across the country.Recognizing this need, BioQUEST is equipped as an established and proven convener to build leadership capacity and facilitate NSF proposal submission knowledge among two-year college STEM faculty. “Our mission is to build an inclusive and dynamic community of STEM faculty at two-year colleges, empowering them with the skills and tools needed to lead and innovate,” stated Dr. Sarah Prescott, BioQUEST Executive Director. “By sharing knowledge and fostering collaboration, we aim to enhance STEM education and create a richer learning experience for students across the country.” Led by BioQUEST, the project will bring together an experienced organizing committee of two-year college STEM faculty, including hosting a face-to-face workshop and collaborative online community, supporting faculty participation in NSF-funded education projects. The project will adapt a range of existing resources related to proposal preparation, project planning and management, allowing for flexible implementation in diverse contexts. The collaborative QUBES Platform will be used to design and implement the workshop, disseminate outcomes and evaluate proposal preparation resources.Conference: Building Leadership Capacity for STEM Education Innovation at Two-Year CollegesHosted by BioQUEST, the award will fund a conference bringing together 40 STEM faculty members from two-year colleges for a face-to-face workshop aimed at enhancing leadership capacity and facilitating NSF proposal submissions. The project will foster engagement with national STEM education reform projects, promoting the adoption of effective education practices and building faculty capacity for instructional innovations in an evolving post-secondary education landscape. To view and download the full press release, click here.For more information about BioQUEST, the grant or the programming, please visit the following:SPICE Website: spice.qubeshub.orgBioQUEST Website: bioquest.orgQUBES Platform: qubeshub.orgEmail: info@bioquest.orgSocial Media: Twitter @bioquested | Facebook @bioquested | Instagram @bioquested
Read More ›BioQUEST hosted a series of Community Conversations during the 2021-22 school year--short presentations about topics of interest to our community, followed by discussion.Many of the presentations are now posted on our website--get an introduction to the QUBES Educational Resources Library, the peer-reviewed journal CourseSource, how BioQUEST and QUBES can support your project, and much more. While we are taking a break from community conversations this summer, we will continue to hold office hours! Wednesdays at noon ET and Thursdays at 2:00 PM ET.
Read More ›Dear BioQUEST / QUBES community,The National Science Foundation has reached out to us for input on the value and need for an interdisciplinary training program for undergraduate students at the intersection of biology, mathematics, and computer science. You can read the full Request for Information here.They will be accepting comments until December 31, 2021 but hope that BioQUEST/QUBES community members might respond with thoughts sooner than that. The RFI describes NSF’s interest in developing a new program and a request for stakeholder input on some specific questions.Please feel free to reach out to Mary Crowe (mcrowe@nsf.gov) with questions. You are also invited to share this information with others who might have interest or insights related to undergraduate education at the interface of biological sciences, mathematics, and computer science. Thank you for any input and/or help spreading the word,The BioQUEST Team
Read More ›BioQUEST has played an important role in the development and implementation of the QUBES project over the last seven years, sharing leadership, staff, and resources, as well as philosophies about open education resources and professional development that empowers faculty. As NSF funding for the initial QUBES project comes to an end in August of 2021, the QUBES infrastructure will officially move under the management of BioQUEST, a community of transformation with a 35-year mission to empower faculty to adopt innovative teaching and learning practices. This shift in management has been evolving over the last few years and will ensure sustainability for the QUBES platform. It also provides exciting opportunities for innovative models of collaboration, professional development, and open publishing that leverage BioQUEST's long track record of community building with the QUBES platform’s broad reach and functionality.Access to the QUBES platform and the Educational Resources Library will continue to be free for community users. We will continue to offer project support services and professional development opportunities. See the services page on QUBES for the latest information.Both the BioQUEST organization and the QUBES project share a commitment to evidence-based STEM education reform, inclusive teaching and Universal Design for Learning, open educational resources, and curriculum development that actively engages all students in real-world, data-driven scientific inquiry. We will move forward with one mission--broadly, to empower Life Science educators to drive innovation in STEM education for all students. BioQUEST collaborates with diverse projects, professional societies, scientific data and tool providers, and education reform communities to promote innovative undergraduate STEM education. We look forward to supporting and strengthening this outstanding community. Please feel free to reach out to our team with questions or concerns, and stay tuned to our monthly newsletter and social media for more announcements. You can learn more about BioQUEST’s mission, vision, and values, and its 35-year history here.
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