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BCEENET- Broadening undergraduate participation in ecology and evolution research through CUREs using digitized natural history collections data (RCN-UBE Introduction)

Author(s): Janice L. Krumm1, Carly N. Jordan2, Liz Shea3, Jean L Woods4, Cecily D Bronson5

1. Widener University 2. The George Washington University 3. Delaware Museum of Nature and Science 4. Bethel College, Kansas 5. BCEENET

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Summary:
Biological Collections in Ecology and Evolution Network (BCEENET) brings together natural history collections (NHC) professionals, undergraduate educators, data experts, and researchers to support the development and implementation of Course-based…

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Biological Collections in Ecology and Evolution Network (BCEENET) brings together natural history collections (NHC) professionals, undergraduate educators, data experts, and researchers to support the development and implementation of Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) using digitized natural history collections (dNHC) data. dNHC CUREs can be implemented in both online and in-person formats, and only require student access to a computer and the internet, making them available to students without access to traditional laboratory resources. BCEENET supports robust online communication between education and collections communities to promote collaboration and provides training opportunities directly supporting the CUREs. Support to develop four CUREs during summer 2020 was provided by a RAPID-COVID grant, and BCEENET has continued to offer implementer support for the CUREs ever since. Ongoing goals: 1. Broadening institutional and student participation by increasing awareness of dNHC CUREs, 2. Providing training, online resources, and peer support for CURE implementation, and 3. Connecting members across professional groups to facilitate collaboration.

Licensed under CC Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International according to these terms

Version 1.0 - published on 29 May 2023 doi:10.25334/T67R-AC05 - cite this

Keywords

  1. Evolution
  2. ecology
  3. biology
  4. undergraduate research
  5. data management
  6. natural history collections
  7. course-based research experiences (CUREs)
  8. digitized natural history collections
  9. BCEENET
  10. course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs)
  11. RCN-UBE Introduction

Alignments

  1. Resource Type
  2. Audience Level
  3. Inclusive Pedagogy for Life Science Education
  4. Open Science and Education Practices Ontology
Contents:
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Description

BCEENET QUBES Page        BCEENET Page

Introduction

BCEENET brings together natural history collections professionals, undergraduate educators, data experts, and researchers to support the implementation of Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) using digitized natural history collections (dNHC) data. BCEENET provides training, funding, curriculum materials, and ongoing support for faculty who implement dNHC CUREs. Since 2020, BCEENET members have brought research experiences to over 2800 undergraduates!

Problems: Research experiences provide STEM students with important benefits, but they are not always accessible.

  1. Opportunities for student research in ecology and evolutionary biology are limited at many institutions, and students from underrepresented populations in STEM face greater obstacles accessing research experiences.
  2. Some institutions face additional challenges with regard to facilities or support for research, particularly community colleges and minority-serving institutions.
  3. Faculty may not be familiar with the availability of dNHC data or the existing dNHC CURE resources that can be implemented in online, hybrid, hy-flex, and in-person formats.
  4. Faculty need support and training in dNHC data, the tools needed to explore and analyze them, and integration of dNHC CUREs into their courses.
  5. Faculty may not have connections with NHC experts or CURE educators who could provide knowledge about collections data and undergraduate research.

Communities: Instructors teaching courses in biology or environmental sciences, across all institution types but with particular focus on community colleges and minority-serving institutions.

Activities: We are constantly recruiting faculty to be CURE implementers, through virtual sessions, conference presentations, and in person recruitment workshops. We select 10-15 BCEENET CURE Implementer Fellows each summer (through 2024 on the RCN award and through 2026 on a new IUSE award) to receive funding for implementing, live virtual training, and year-round, weekly peer support. We have already published two CUREs and several accompanying modules as OER materials on QUBES, and more will be coming soon.
 

Ways to learn more:

Ways to get involved:

If you are interested in learning more and participating please join this group or email BCEENET Coordination Team: bceenetwork@gmail.com

 

NSF Project AbstractRCN-UBE #2120063

 

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