There have been several national calls to revise undergraduate biology education to focus primarily on core concepts and skills as opposed to topics.  Many departments have been moving toward this goal, but have lacked a means to measure their progress.  We have developed, validated and field-tested a programmatic-level assessment called BioMAPS (for Biology-Measuring Achievement and Progress in Science) that is aligned with the core concepts outlined by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) report Vision and Change.

Bachelor Birds: Why Models Should Consider Seabird Sex

By: Natasha Gownaris

How predictable is nature? This question is central to ecology, regardless of whether the goal is to comprehend nature from an empirical perspective, to seek a more general theoretical understanding, or to provide practical insight into the management of natural systems. In the first part of this talk (Past) I introduce the PalEON project and discuss how millennial-scale hindcasts of the Northern US are being used to reconstruct presettlement conditions and validate terrestrial ecosystem models.

Making connections and a sense of belonging to the university community enhances student learning. As a first generation college student and a veteran, I understand how important such connections can be.

Outreach before students enter the university can be instrumental in acquiring skills to be successful in college. Laboratories can be a fun and instructive means for outreach and teaching. The cockroach leg preparation lends itself to student learning from middle school through graduate education. I will discuss the modular design of this preparation.