CSULA professors named Fellows in Life Sciences
Fisher,
Narguizian selected to participate in
Los Angeles, CA –
Cal State L.A.’s Biology Professors Kirsten Fisher
(Pasadena resident) and Paul Narguizian (Sherman Oaks resident)
both were bestowed the title of Education Fellows in the Life
Sciences by The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering,
National Research Council and Institute of Medicine.
As Fellows, they recently participated in the 2011 National Academic
Regional Summer Institute on Undergraduate Education in Biology held at
The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA.
Fisher and Narguizian were selected based on their ideas for enhancing
undergraduate biology education, and due to CSULA’s commitment to
support teaching innovations. They were also chosen based on their
willingness to collaborate on the development of instructional materials
to teach scientific thinking and biology concepts.
Additionally, both CSULA faculty members pledged to implement a seminar
designed to enhance the ability of graduate students, postdoctoral
fellows, and others to mentor undergraduates in the research laboratory.
An expert on bryophyte ecology and evolution, Fisher is interested in
research on plant molecular systematics, phylogeography, and the use of
phylogenetic trees for exploring evolutionary questions in general. She
is affiliated with the University’s Center for Energy and
Sustainability, funded by the National Science Foundation.
Narguizian’s expertise is in K-16 science instruction, curriculum
development and assessment associated with science education. His
research and publication interests include evolution education, the role
of museums and natural history collections in understanding evolution,
animal behavior, and the nature, philosophy and history of science.
Aimed at fostering innovative approaches to teaching undergraduate
biology, the summer institute involved teams from 16 research
universities from across the United States for five days of
presentations, discussions, intensive group work and other activities
with a focus on themes of active learning, assessment and diversity.
The summer institute is the direct result of a key recommendation from
the 2003 National Research Council report, entitled Bio2010:
Transforming Undergraduate Education for Future Research Biologists,
which called for programs of professional development to engage faculty
at research-intensive institutions in taking greater responsibility for
high-quality undergraduate biology education.
Major funding for the summer institute was provided by the Howard Hughes
Medical Institute, along with support from the host university and The
National Academies. For details:
http://www.AcademiesSummerInstitute.org.
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The National Academies regional
summer institute
In a letter to CSULA President James M. Rosser, National Academy of
Sciences Vice President Barbara A. Schaal wrote: “By sending this team
to the National Academies Summer Institute, your institution is at the
forefront of improvement of undergraduate education that is so essential
for preparing both future scientists and scientifically-literate
citizens.”
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