1. The HHMI Science Education Alliance Create Refine Network Disseminate Resources for Science Education Tuajuanda Jordan, Ph.D. Senior Program Officer Howard Hughes Medical Institute

2. July 24, 20072 The Mission of the Science Education Alliance (SEA)  To be a national resource for science education by Developing and providing new materials and methods to the education community Assembling and supporting educator networks working on common activities

3. July 24, 20073 The SEA  Key players Scientists Educators  Ultimate goal Improve the production and quality of 21 st - century scientists

4. July 24, 20074 One Strategy EDUCATION RESEARCH 1. Survey 2. Identify 3. Develop

5. July 24, 20075 Development Process  Workshops  Institutes  Short courses  Sabbaticals

6. July 24, 20076 Dissemination Plan  Quality control and adaptability Peer review Beta testing  Methods of dissemination Workshops Institutes Internet Multimedia

7. July 24, 20077 A SEA Example  A fact Undergraduate research is important  The problem Faculty time Resources: human, physical, financial  A solution Develop a mechanism to infuse research into the curriculum  The mechanism A national experiment to be implemented as an introductory biology course

8. July 24, 20078 National Phage Genomics Initiative  What are the expectations? Short-term  Increased exposure of lower-division students to the practical aspects of science  Enhanced critical-thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills  Increased involvement in mentored undergraduate research experiences  Development of new and improved pedagogical methods  Enhancement of knowledge to the general scientific community

9. July 24, 20079 National Phage Genomics Initiative  What are the expectations? Long-term  Improved percentage of students pursuing advanced graduate and professional degrees  Increased production of individuals pursuing research careers  Improved public awareness of the basic aspects of science  Broad dissemination of innovative methods in pedagogy  Enhanced public understanding of the scientific process

10. July 24, 200710 National Phage Genomics Initiative  Why bacteriophage? Plentiful Highly diverse Easily isolated directly from the environment Relatively simple and small genomes Well established techniques to  Isolate, propagate, and purify the phage  Isolate, purify, clone, and characterize the DNA

11. July 24, 200711 National Phage Genomics Initiative  Why Introductory Biology course? Freshmen and sophomores Opportunity to encounter the organism/research products in other, more advanced, cross- disciplinary courses  What is the implementation format? Lecture + lab Lecture integrated into the lab

12. July 24, 200712 National Phage Genomics Initiative  What is the course implementation method? Full year One semester Modular

13. July 24, 200713 National Phage Genomics Initiative  Full-year implementation 1 st semester  Introductory exercises Lab safety Scientific ethics Notebooks Basic laboratory techniques and calculations  Microbiology  Molecular biology

14. July 24, 200714 National Phage Genomics Initiative  Full-year implementation (continued) 2 nd semester  Introductory exercises  Genomics Finishing Annotation Comparative analysis Summer (optional)  Annotation  Draft manuscript

15. July 24, 200715 National Phage Genomics Initiative  One-semester (examples) Phage isolation and characterization, or Phage genomic analysis (finishing, annotation, and/or comparative genomics)  Modular The specific topic(s) to be implemented is/are up to the faculty

16. July 24, 200716 National Phage Genomics Initiative  The SEA will provide Faculty (& staff) training workshops (1 week each)  Introduction to The Concept and The Question; logistics (late Fall)  Microbiology and Molecular biology (early Summer)  Bioinformatics (Winter break) Resource/protocol book  General protocols that have been tested with troubleshooting guide  Pull out step by step outline  Decision trees Kits containing required biologicals, solutions, etc.  “Back up” phage stock that has been incompletely characterized either by Hatfull’s group or by a previous participant

17. July 24, 200717 National Phage Genomics Initiative  The SEA will provide Equipment not normally available at the institution Access to all necessary databases, web-tools, and computer programs Sequencing services Communications system to facilitate data exchange and discussions between participants and staff  Electronic bulletin board (portions secured from public viewing)  Wiki (open to the public but secured deposits and edits)  Other mechanisms as required

18. July 24, 200718 National Phage Genomics Initiative  The SEA will provide Networking, planning, and trouble-shooting workshops Annual symposium  Student research presentations  Faculty presentations on pedagogical strategies/models Computer support staff and dedicated server Paid travel and lodging expenses to the SEA conferences and symposia Course resource support for up to three cycles Curriculum development assistance

19. July 24, 200719 National Phage Genomics Initiative  Expected commitment from participants Faculty  Attend all training workshops and conferences with a colleague  Implement the course, in agreed upon format, the semester immediately following attendance of 1 st training workshop  Agree to run the course for at least two cycles  Assist SEA in evaluating the course and ancillary activities & resources assessing impact on student learning and career path

20. July 24, 200720 National Phage Genomics Initiative  Expected commitment from participants Faculty  Write draft of experimental results for inclusion in manuscript and work with lead scientist to ensure integrity of submitted data  Collect “permanent” contact information for student participants  Agree to disseminate results of course implementation via mechanisms recognized by the scientific and education communities  Agree to make any developed resources accessible and freely available to the general public via the HHMI SEA website

21. July 24, 200721 National Phage Genomics Initiative  Expected commitment from participants The Institution  Salary + fringe benefits of the participating faculty  Teaching laboratory space  Basic supplies and equipment found in a standard Intro Biology laboratory course  IT support  Assist with tracking participating students and identifying suitable control groups  Agree to institutionalize the course, if proven successful, after three continuous cycles of HHMI support  Agree that any resource developed as a result of participating in this initiative will be made accessible and freely available to the public

22. July 24, 200722 National Phage Genomics Initiative  Requirements of all members of The Alliance Willing to assist others Willing to be assisted by others Sharing all developed resources  Other matters Who can participate?  Virtually any 4-year, accredited institution with a sufficient number of STEM majors

23. July 24, 200723 National Phage Genomics Initiative  Other matters (continued) How will selections be made? When will selections be made? How do you notify HHMI of your interest?  natexp@hhmi.org

24. July 24, 200724 The SEA  If you have suggestions for additional SEA initiatives, feel free to send me an email Caveat: should be an activity that  is congruent with our mission  Has the potential to benefit the community at large