RCN-UBE INCUBATOR: VISUAL ANALYTICS IN BIOLOGY CURRICULUM NETWORK

该项目建立了生物学课程网络中的可视化分析（VABCN）-一个由多学科研究人员，教育工作者和学生组成的国际网络，他们正在开发将可视化分析纳入生物学本科教育的方法。可视化分析被定义为通过交互式可视化界面促进分析推理的科学。该网络的形成正在通过两个研讨会，将进行启动（一）创建包括可视化分析工具的重要性的生物学教育工作者之间的认识课程和（ii）开发框架设计所需的材料和战略，将可视化分析纳入本科生物学课程。智力优势：由于多模态和复杂的生物数据集的爆炸，生物学已经成为一门严重依赖生物信息学工具的科学。交互式可视化工具与人类推理相结合，被用来改善对各种生物数据的访问和分析，这些数据现在是现代生物学各个领域的重要组成部分，从细胞分子的分类到长期生态测量。为了充分准备下一代生物学家，并帮助教育所有学生现代生物学，重要的是让学生意识到可视化分析领域，并训练他们使用和理解它提供的工具。更广泛的影响：VABCN将连接不同的组织和团体，包括社区学院，少数民族服务机构，主要是本科院校和研究机构。牵头机构杰克逊州立大学是一所HBCU，在针对少数民族学生的创新教育方法方面有着良好的记录。国际层面将扩大来自美国的网络参与者的视野，为生物科学准备全球参与的下一代科学和工程劳动力。最后，VABCN成员将开发和分享课程和最佳实践，以改变本科生物学教育，重点是适合来自不同背景的学生的方法，这些学生在STEM学科中的代表性不足。该项目由生物科学理事会，生物基础设施司和教育与人力资源理事会共同资助，本科教育司作为他们的愿景和本科生物学教育的努力变化的一部分。

This project establishes the Visual Analytics in Biology Curriculum Network (VABCN)--an international network of multidisciplinary researchers, educators and students who are developing approaches for incorporating visual analytics into biology undergraduate education. Visual analytics is defined as the science of analytical reasoning facilitated by interactive visual interfaces. Formation of the network is being initiated through two workshops that will be conducted to (i) create awareness among biology educators of the importance of including visual analytics tools within the curriculum and (ii) develop the framework for design of needed materials and strategies for incorporating visual analytics within the undergraduate biology curriculum. Intellectual Merit: As a result of the explosion of multimodal and complex biological datasets, biology has become a science that relies heavily on the use of bioinformatics tools. Interactive visualization tools combined with human reasoning are being used to improve access to and analysis of diverse biological data that are now important components of every field in modern biology ranging from the categorization of cellular molecules to long-term ecological measurements. In order to adequately prepare the next generation of biologists and to help educate all students about modern biology, it is important to make students aware of the field of visual analytics and to train them to use and understand the tools it provides. Broader Impacts: The VABCN will connect diverse organizations and groups including community colleges, minority serving institutions, predominantly undergraduate institutions and research institutions. The lead institution, Jackson State University, is an HBCU with a strong track record in innovative educational approaches targeted for minority students. The international dimension will broaden the horizon of network participants from the United States to prepare a globally-engaged next generation science and engineering workforce for the biological sciences. Finally, the VABCN members will develop and share curricula and best practices to transform the undergraduate biology education with an emphasis on approaches that are appropriate for students from a diverse background who are under-represented in the STEM disciplines.This project is being jointly funded by the Directorate for Biological Sciences, Division of Biological Infrastructure and the Directorate for Education and Human Resources, Division of Undergraduate Education as part of their Vision and Change in Undergraduate Biology Education efforts.