RCN-UBE: Broadening undergraduate participation in ecology and evolution research through CUREs using digitized natural history collections data

基于课程的本科生研究经验（CURES）增加学生获得研究机会，这是培养训练有素和多样化的STEM劳动力的关键部分。生态学和进化网络中的生物收藏品（BCEENET）将利用数字化的自然历史收藏数据支持生态学和进化CURE的开发和实施。这些CURE只要求学生访问计算机和互联网，增加了所有学生的本科研究的可访问性，无论经济困难，个人义务或身体能力，可能会限制他们参与传统的研究经验。网络成员包括教育工作者，教育学专家，和自然历史收藏专业人员将合作支持CURE的实施，使用不同机构的数字化自然历史收藏数据。成员招募将包括以少数民族服务机构和两年制机构为重点的研讨会，以及针对更广泛的生态和进化教育界和自然历史收藏界的会议演讲。新的实施者将参加为期4天的培训研讨会，重点是CURE教学法和数字化自然历史收藏研究，所有实施者将获得持续的指导支持。所有网络成员将继续有机会接受新技能培训，并参与教育资源的开发和传播。通过该项目创建的教育材料将开放获取，以支持广泛传播和实施收集CURE，支持所有机构类型的不同本科生的研究机会。通过定期的网络活动，该网络将在自然历史收藏界和教育界之间建立新的和更强大的联系，支持新的研究合作和扩大利用未充分利用的收藏品。该项目由生物科学理事会资助，作为应对本科生物学教育中的愿景和变革所带来的挑战的努力的一部分：行动呼吁（http：//visionandchange/finalreport/）。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估来支持。

Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) increase student access to research opportunities, a key part of developing a well-trained and diverse STEM workforce. The Biological Collections in Ecology and Evolution Network (BCEENET) will support the development and implementation of ecology and evolution CUREs using digitized natural history collections data. These CUREs only require student access to a computer and the internet, increasing the accessibility of undergraduate research for all students, regardless of financial hardships, personal obligations, or physical abilities that may limit their participation in traditional research experiences.Network members including educators, pedagogy experts, and natural history collections professionals will collaborate on supporting CURE implementation using digitized natural history collections data at diverse institutions. Membership recruitment will include workshops focused on minority serving institutions and two-year institutions as well as conference presentations targeting the broader ecology and evolution education community and the natural history collections community. New implementers will participate in 4-day training workshops focused on CURE pedagogy and digitized natural history collections research, and all implementers will be provided with ongoing mentoring support. All network members will have continued opportunities for new skills training and participation in educational resources development and dissemination. Educational materials created through this project will be open access to support broad dissemination and implementation of collections CUREs, supporting research opportunities for diverse undergraduates at all institutional types. Through regular networking events the network will forge new and stronger ties between the natural history collections community and the education community, supporting new research collaborations and expanded use of underutilized collections. This project is being funded by the Directorate for Biological Sciences as part of efforts to address the challenges posed in Vision and Change in Undergraduate Biology Education: A Call to Action (http://visionandchange/finalreport/).This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.