RCN-UBE Incubator: Network for the Integration of Natural History Collections in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences

本科研究提高了学生的参与度、留校率和长期的成功，对于建立一支具有科学素养和敬业精神的劳动力队伍至关重要。生态学和进化生物学基于课程的研究体验（EEB-CURE）网络旨在通过利用快速增长的数字化自然历史收集数据的可用性，支持基于新课程的本科研究体验的发展。在生物学和环境科学课程中嵌入研究经验对于低收入、第一代和少数族裔本科生来说尤其重要，因为个人和经济障碍，他们无法在正常课程负荷之外投入时间进行研究。EEB-CURE网络将创建一个由本科教育工作者、自然历史馆长、教育专家和数据专家组成的社区，他们将探索生态学和进化生物学课程如何挖掘在iDigBio.org等基于网络的数据门户网站上整理和提供的数亿条数据记录。该项目的第一阶段将确定与利用自然历史标本数据开发基于课程的研究经验相关的挑战，并确定哪些资源和培训机会对这些课程的开发至关重要。将设计和分发两项调查，一项是评估生物教育者对使用自然历史收集数据进行cure教学的兴趣，另一项是评估自然历史收集专业人员与教育者合作的兴趣。调查还将调查这两个群体的培训和资源需求。该项目将招募一个多元化的指导委员会和网络成员，他们对生态、进化和自然历史收藏的交叉充满热情，并将积极推动高级生物学CURE的发展。教授比例较高的少数族裔和第一代大学生的教师将被特别鼓励加入该网络。该项目的高潮将是召开一次网络会议，审查调查结果，制定培训讲习班、教材和合作机会的计划，以推动网络的目标向前发展。该项目由生物基础设施司生物科学理事会和本科教育司教育和人力资源理事会共同资助，作为其应对《本科生物学教育的愿景与变革：行动呼吁》（http://visionandchange/finalreport/）所提出的挑战的努力的一部分。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并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，被认为值得支持。

Undergraduate research increases student engagement, retention, and long-term success and is essential for building a scientifically literate and engaged workforce. The Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Course-based Research Experience (EEB-CURE) Network seeks to support the development of new course based undergraduate research experiences by leveraging the rapidly increasing availability of digitized natural history collections data. Embedding research experiences in biology and environmental science coursework is especially important for low income, first generation, and minority undergraduate students unable to dedicate time to research outside their normal course load due to personal and financial barriers. The EEB-CURE Network will create a community of undergraduate educators, natural history curators, education experts, and data experts who will explore how ecology and evolutionary biology classes can mine the hundreds of millions of data records being curated and served on web-based data portals such as iDigBio.org. The first stage of this project will identify the challenges associated with developing course-based research experiences using natural history specimen data and determine what resources and training opportunities are critical for development of these courses. Two surveys will be designed and distributed, one to assess the interest of biology educators in teaching CUREs using natural history collection data and the other to assess the interest of natural history collections professionals in collaborating with educators. The surveys will also investigate the training and resource needs of both groups. The project will recruit a diverse group of steering committee and network members who are passionate about the intersection of ecology, evolution, and natural history collections and who will actively promote the development of an upper-level biology CURE. Faculty members who teach high proportions of underrepresented minorities and first-generation college students will be especially encouraged to participate in the network. The culmination of the project will be a network meeting to review the results of the surveys and develop plans for training workshops, teaching materials, and collaboration opportunities to move the goals of the network forward. 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 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.