Initial Publication Date: October 28, 2005

Wrap-up Group Discussion

Deliverables:
Who is doing what, and when?
What are our next steps?

What:

Biocomplexity curricular resources based on specific topics (e.g. El Nino). A model for case-based modules.

How:

  1. Web site to communicate:
    • How to develop student activities and approaches
    • Introductory steps around a biocomplexity case study
      • Find the links
      • Role playing
      • Concept maps
    • Examples of existing case studies (today El Nino, tomorrow...)
  2. JGE article? (we need publications)

Who:

Ghost writer needed
  • Carol will provide the reference list for El Nino
  • Rose will type what we have
  • Julie will turn it into html
  • Robin will make a concept map example

What:

Identify the fundamental elements of biocomplexity for educators.

How:

Conduct a workshop or shourt course on the fundamental elements of biocomplexity.

Who:

Workshop run by experts in each needed area who are also audience participants.

What:

Case studies based on funded CHN (coupled human-natural systems) projects—articulate links between human and natural systems.

How:

Personal contact with PIs Publishers and necessary support persons

Who:

Dave McGinnis and Biocomplexity PIs

How do we have an influence?

A) Teaching

  • Asking questions
  • Using case studies to phrase questions in biocomplexity
  • Breaking out of traditional departments
  • New ways to include biocomplexity in classes
  • Motivation to break down subject barriers
  • How to incorporate and make us socially responsible

B) Research

  • Incorporation of feedback from stakeholders
  • Expand projects to include new collaborators
  • Funding for integrated studies

C) Academic Life

  • Work to increase interaction between humans and geology
  • Validation
  • Appreciation of "biocomplexity"
  • Collegiality
  • Cross-fertilization between disciplines

What to do to reach a wider audience over a longer term?

Spread the message to...

  • Paleontologists
  • Modelers
  • Pattern emergence physicists
  • Condensed matter theorists
  • Emergence mathematicians
  • Social scientists and geographers
  • Cultural ecologists
  • General ed
  • Non scientists

How to get the message out?

  • Within university—departments, deans, administration
  • Communications written so that non-scientists can understand them
  • Science journalism, such as LDEO
  • Model complexity across the curriculum
  • Broaden thesis resources
  • Informal seminar series
  • Lecturer series
  • Map onto NSES
  • Way of thinking
  • Form partnerships, such as with school boards

Develop a "party line"

  • What is biocomplexity? (3 bullets)
  • How is biocomplexity an improvement over the way we currently look at systems? (3 bullets)

Develop publications

  • Article for the Chronicle of Higher Education
  • No white paper at this time.

Our Message to NSF

  • Funding of integrated research by NSF is much appreciated and needs to keep going.
  • Biocomplexity has the potential to promote a systemic change in education.
  • NSF to facilitate transfer of research to educational materials, from K through grad levels.
  • NSF to fund biocomplexity education in parallel, rather than waiting until research is further along.
  • Would like to see follow-on workshops (e.g. regional focus).