Improvement of Undergraduate Biology Laboratories in "A Course Cluster in the Sciences For Freshmen"

自1992年以来，生物学导论课程的授课方式是将授课与实验紧密结合，包括以小组为基础的学期项目。这门课程的主题之一，也是一门针对新生的特殊科学课程群，是研究光作为信号（基因调控），作为能量来源（生物能量学），以及作为研究生物过程的工具。该项目大量使用了UVMS光谱学，一些荧光学和一些显微镜。为了提高学生对光在生物过程中的作用的理解和欣赏，该系需要增加荧光显微镜技术来提高测量水平。此外，该系正安排增加另一台带摄影机和打印机的立体显微镜，以增加观察和记录实验的机会。以前，只有有限的可控环境空间和生长设施用于植物组织培养、细胞悬浮培养和藻类培养。我们努力增加可选择环境的能力，以便学生有更多的实验选择。完成这类实验的学生对他们以后的课程要求更高，并倾向于推动系里向新的方向发展。他们还向其他学生传播这样的信息：研究是激发智力和乐趣的。

Since 1992, the Introductory Biology course has been taught as a tightly integrated lecture/laboratory experience involving group-based semester-long projects. One theme of the course, and of a special science course cluster for freshmen, is the study of light as a signal (gene regulation), as an energy source (bioenergetics), and as a tool for studying biological processes. This project makes heavy use of UVMS spectroscopy, some fluorimetry, and some microscopy. To increase students' understanding and appreciation of the role of light in biological processes, the department needs to add the techniques of fluorescent microscopy to increase the levels of measurement. In addition, the department is arranging to increase the opportunities for observing and recording experiments with the addition of another stereomicroscope with video camera and printer. Previously, there have only been limited controlled environment space and growth facilities for plant tissue cultures, cell suspension, and algal cultures. There is an effort to increase the capabilities for alternative environments so that students have more choices for experimentation. Students who have completed these sorts of laboratory experiences are much more demanding in their later courses and tend to drive the department in new directions. They also disseminate to other students the message that research is intellectually stimulating and fun.