RCN-UBE INCUBATOR: VISUAL ANALYTICS IN BIOLOGY CURRICULUM NETWORK

这个项目建立了生物视觉分析课程网络(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，他们正在开发将视觉分析纳入生物本科教育的方法。视觉分析被定义为通过交互式视觉界面促进分析推理的科学。目前正在通过举办两期讲习班建立该网络，这两期讲习班的目的是：(I)使生物教育工作者认识到将视觉分析工具纳入课程的重要性；(Ii)为将视觉分析纳入本科生生物学课程制定必要材料和战略的设计框架。智力价值：由于多模式和复杂的生物数据集的爆炸性增长，生物学已经成为一门严重依赖生物信息学工具使用的科学。与人类推理相结合的交互式可视化工具正被用来改进对各种生物数据的获取和分析，这些数据现在是现代生物学每个领域的重要组成部分，从细胞分子的分类到长期的生态测量。为了充分培养下一代生物学家，并帮助所有学生了解现代生物学，重要的是让学生了解视觉分析领域，并培训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、少数族裔服务机构、以本科生为主的机构和研究机构。牵头机构杰克逊州立大学是HBCU，在针对少数族裔学生的创新教育方法方面有着良好的记录。国际层面将拓宽来自美国的网络参与者的视野，为生物科学培养一支面向全球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，以转变本科生物学教育，重点是适合STEM学科中代表性不足的不同背景的学生的方法。该项目由生物科学局生物基础设施部和教育与人力资源局本科教育司共同资助，作为他们在本科生物学教育愿景和变革努力的一部分。

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.