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.org
BioQUEST Website: bioquest.org
QUBES Platform: qubeshub.org
Email: info@bioquest.org
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