June 2019 Newsletter

Recent Publications

Recommendations for Effective Integration of Ethics and Responsible Conduct of Research (E/RCR) Education into Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences: A Meeting Report
CUREs provide a valuable mechanism to engage emergent scholars in the rigorous process of scientific discovery, yet few efforts exist that address ethics and responsible conduct of research (E/RCR) education within such contexts. This report discusses theoretical and practical measures for addressing this concern.

A Short, Course-Based Research Module Provides Metacognitive Benefits in the Form of More Sophisticated Problem Solving
This article illustrates how a short, course-based research module that provides metacognitive training in a high-enrollment biology course enhances complexity of student responses to a research-related problem-solving exercise. Students described how the design and implementation enhanced their engagement and investment in the research experience. This work supports the idea that even short research modules can provide measurable benefits to students and may be an alternative to more costly whole-course research experiences.

Big Data to the Bench: Transcriptome Analysis for Undergraduates
This paper describes a CURE that combines RNA-sequencing analysis with student-driven, wet-lab experiments. The course promotes exploration of the links between gene expression and phenotype examples that are clear and tractable while allowing students to develop quantitative and computational skills to prepare them for the "big data era" of modern biology.

CURE-all: Large Scale Implementation of Authentic DNA Barcoding Research into First-Year Biology Curriculum
In this CourseSource lesson, first-year students use DNA barcoding to engage in research practices related to ecology, molecular biology, and bioinformatics. Students identify local species of plants, fungi, and invertebrates and share their findings through a public database. A detailed description of the content, logistics, and implementation of this 14-week series of labs is provided.

Announcements and Opportunities

REIL-Biology Pre-SABER Workshop

The REIL-Biology network is hosting a one-day meeting the day prior to the beginning of SABER 2019 (July 25). At this meeting, past participants in REIL-Biology workshops will be presenting posters on their work implementing research in their courses along with discussions about topics related to development, implementation, and sustainability of CUREs. Travel funding is available for the participants in the pre-conference meeting. If you are interested in attending, fill out the online form.

Project EDDIE Module Development Workshop

The Module Development Workshop will be held at Carleton College in Northfield Minnesota from October 28-30, 2019. This workshop brings together instructors from a variety of disciplines and institutions who will be guided through developing teaching modules that use the community-identified best practices for using large datasets to improve quantitative reasoning in students. For more information, visit: Project EDDIE Module Development Workshop

2019 NSF STEM For All Video Showcase - "Innovations in STEM Education"

Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) recently submitted a video into the 2019 STEM for All Video Showcase about how they developed and implemented CUREs in a variety of science disciplines with hopes of improving community college students' science education and assisting with their transition to four-year institutions. Head on over to the STEM Video Hall to check out SRJC's video and other innovative projects aimed at improving STEM teaching and learning!

CUREnet Resources

CURE Institutes - Alabama State University

CUREnet is hosting an upcoming Institute at Alabama State University from August 8-10, 2019. During the Institute, participants will learn about and use evidence-based instructional strategies to develop plans, instructional materials, and assessment tools for integrating a science research project into their science laboratory course. Emphasis will be on the life sciences, but participants from other natural sciences and the social sciences are welcomed. For more information, visit: CUREnet Institute - Alabama State University

CURE Development Fellows

With support from the National Science Foundation, CUREnet is sponsoring three groups of CURE Fellows. The first group, CURE Development Fellows, have been selected for their plans to build capacity for CURE instruction at their own campuses and beyond. Products and resources that they develop will be posted on the CUREnet site. Applications for an addition cohort of CURE Fellows will go live soon! Head over to the CUREnet website to learn more.

Funding Your CURE

Please visit the CUREnet site to learn more about how others have funded their CUREs and share your own experiences!

Have news to share?

Use this page on the CUREnet website to submit publications, announcements, and job posts to be featured in the next quarterly CUREnet newsletter.

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