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Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Convocation Agenda." National Research Council. 2012. Thinking Evolutionarily: Evolution Education Across the Life Sciences: Summary of a Convocation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13403.
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A

Convocation Agenda

Thinking Evolutionarily:
Evolution Education Across the Life Sciences
Organized by:
Board on Life Sciences, National Research Council
National Academy of Sciences
Co-hosted by Carnegie Institution for Science
1530 P St., NW, Washington, DC
October 25-26, 2011

 

We sincerely thank the National Academy of Sciences, the Burroughs-Wellcome Fund, the Christian A. Johnson Endeavor Foundation, the Carnegie Institution for Science, and the National Science Foundation through a Research Coordination Network/Undergraduate Biology Education grant to the University of Oklahoma for their generous support of this convocation.

DAY 1: EXPLORING THE OPPORTUNITIES AND
SETTING THE STAGE FOR FUTURE ACTION

Tuesday, October 25

11:15 AM

Registration, First Floor Foyer Lunch

Available beginning at 11:30, Rotunda (2nd floor)

12:00 PM Auditorium

Welcome and Introductions

- Jay Labov, National Research Council and National Academy of Sciences

- Maxine Singer, President Emerita, Carnegie Institution for Science

Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Convocation Agenda." National Research Council. 2012. Thinking Evolutionarily: Evolution Education Across the Life Sciences: Summary of a Convocation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13403.
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- Susan Kassouf, Program Officer, Christian A. Johnson Endeavor Foundation (sponsor)

- Cynthia Beall, Chair of the Convocation’s Organizing Committee and Moderator

12:15 PM Auditorium

The Case for Thinking Evolutionarily Across the Life Sciences

- Introductory Undergraduate Biology Courses: Gordon Uno, University of Oklahoma and PI for the NSF’s Research Coordination Network for Undergraduate Biology Education (special advisor to the Committee and PI of the NSF/RCN-UBE grant that is sponsoring this convocation).

- Judy Scotchmoor, Museum of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley

Questions and Discussion

1:15 PM Auditorium

Can This Approach Improve Student Learning of Evolution? The Evidence Base

- Ross Nehm, Ohio State University

Questions and Discussion

2:00 PM Rotunda

Break and opportunity for further networking

2:15 PM Auditorium

Expanding Curricular Opportunities to Introduce Evolutionary Thinking Across the Grade Spans—Brief Presentations and Panel Discussion

- Spencer Benson, University of Maryland: The Role of Evolution in the Restructured Advanced Placement Biology Course

Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Convocation Agenda." National Research Council. 2012. Thinking Evolutionarily: Evolution Education Across the Life Sciences: Summary of a Convocation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13403.
×

- Celeste Carter, National Science Foundation: Vision and Change in Undergraduate Education

- William Galey, Howard Hughes Medical Institute: Scientific Foundations for Future Physicians

- Kristin Jenkins, National Evolutionary Synthesis Center and Member of the Organizing Committee: NESCENT Programs Promoting Evolutionary Thinking

- Mark Schwartz, New York University: Evolutionary Medicine in Biology and Pre-Med Courses

Discussion and Questions

3:15 PM Auditorium

Who Are the Audiences We Are Trying to Reach with this Initiative?

- Cynthia Beall, moderator

3:45 PM Auditorium

How Can Evolutionary Thinking Help Address the Controversies Surrounding the Teaching of Evolution?: A Faculty Forum

- Betty Carvellas, National Academies Teacher Advisory Council

- David Hillis, University of Texas, Austin

- Paul Strode, Fairview High School (Boulder, CO)

- Marlene Zuk, University of California, Riverside

4:30 PM Breakout Rooms

First Breakout Sessions: Exploring the Issues In Greater Depth

The colored dot on your name badge indicates the breakout session to which you have been assigned. Each of these breakout sessions will contain a mix of people with different kinds of expertise. The goal of each

Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Convocation Agenda." National Research Council. 2012. Thinking Evolutionarily: Evolution Education Across the Life Sciences: Summary of a Convocation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13403.
×
   

session will be to explore in depth one of the issues raised in earlier sessions and report back ideas for next steps to all participants. Each group will be facilitated by a member of the organizing committee. Each group will appoint one person to present an overview of the group’s ideas and suggestions at the end of the morning. Each group will decide when to call a break.

Group 1 (yellow dot, Ballroom): What constitutes evolutionary thinking? What approaches are needed to educate faculty and departments about the value of evolutionary thinking in their own courses and programs?

Facilitated by Nancy Moran, Yale University

Group 2 (blue dot, Board Room): What additional evidence is needed to convince biologists of the value of evolutionary thinking? How can that evidence best be gathered through an organized program of research? Who should undertake and sponsor such research?

Facilitated by Ida Chow, Society for Developmental Biology, and Paul Beardsley, California Polytechnic University

Group 3 (green dot, Mayor Room): How can evolutionary thinking become more firmly connected with other emerging efforts to improve life sciences education? In what ways should these efforts be influenced by different target audiences?

Facilitated by Gordon Uno, University of Oklahoma, and Kristin Jenkins, National Evolutionary Synthesis Center

5:30 PM Auditorium

Reports from Breakout Groups (10 minutes each plus discussion)

6:15 PM Auditorium

Closing Remarks, Announcements, and Charge for Day 2

- Cynthia Beall

Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Convocation Agenda." National Research Council. 2012. Thinking Evolutionarily: Evolution Education Across the Life Sciences: Summary of a Convocation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13403.
×

6:30 PM Auditorium

Adjourn for the Day

Evening

Dinner on Your Own for Participants (see accompanying list of suggested restaurants in the Dupont Circle area)

DAY 2:
PLANNING FOR FUTURE ACTIONS TO INFUSE EVOLUTIONARY
THINKING ACROSS LIFE SCIENCES EDUCATION

Wednesday, October 26

7:30 AM

Breakfast

Available in the Rotunda

8:00 AM Auditorium

Synthesis, Reflections on Day 1 and on Moving Forward

- Robert Pennock, BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action, Michigan State University

8:45 AM Auditorium

Reactions and Further Discussion

- Panel of Committee Members- Open microphone for participants

9:15 AM Auditorium

Expanding Resources for Teaching Evolutionary Thinking

- Paul Beardsley (member of the organizing committee), California Polytechnic Institute

- Joseph Levine, Pearson Education and Co-Author (with Kenneth Miller) of Biology

- Judy Scotchmoor, Director, Understanding Evolution and Understanding Science Websites, Museum of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley

Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Convocation Agenda." National Research Council. 2012. Thinking Evolutionarily: Evolution Education Across the Life Sciences: Summary of a Convocation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13403.
×

- John Jungck (Beloit College, BioQuest)

Discussion and Questions

10:00 AM Auditorium

Moderated Panel Discussion: Next Steps: Potential Roles of Key Players

- James Collins (Arizona State University and member of the organizing committee), President of American Institute of Biological Sciences

- Jaclyn Reeves-Pepin, Executive Director, National Association of Biology Teachers

- Joseph LaManna, President, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology

- Amy Chang, Director of Education Programs, American Society for Microbiology

10:30 AM Rotunda

Break and opportunity for further networking

11:00 AM Auditorium

Moving Evolution Education Forward: Why Evolution and Evolutionary Thinking Are Integral Components of Molecular Biology of the Cell

- Bruce Alberts, University of California San Francisco, Editor-in-Chief, Science

Questions and Discussion

12:00 PM Breakout Rooms – Lunch is available in the Rotunda

Second Breakout Sessions: Moving from Vision to Action (Working Lunch)

These sessions are designed to have people with similar interests and expertise meet with each other to craft action items that can be carried forward. Your group should: develop up to three action items that can be undertaken by colleagues in the sector your group represents in the next six months; discuss how your action items might connect with at least one of the other

Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Convocation Agenda." National Research Council. 2012. Thinking Evolutionarily: Evolution Education Across the Life Sciences: Summary of a Convocation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13403.
×

sectors represented in breakout groups; and discuss how the National Research Council and National Academy of Sciences might assist your efforts.

Group 1 (Board Room): Faculty who teach courses in biology and evolution.

Facilitated by Irene Eckstrand, National Institutes of Health, and Nancy Moran, Yale University

Group 2 (Mayor Room): Funders of programs in life sciences education.

Facilitated by James Collins, Arizona State University, and Kristin Jenkins, National Evolutionary Synthesis Center

Group 3 (Ballroom): Representatives from Professional Societies.

Facilitated by Ida Chow, Society for Developmental Biology

Group 4 (Auditorium): Curriculum Developers and Education Researchers.

Facilitated by Gordon Uno, University of Oklahoma, and Paul Beardsley, California Polytechnic Institute.

1:30 PM

Reports from Breakout Groups (10 minutes each plus discussion)

2:30 PM

Closing Thoughts and Reflections

- Members of the Organizing Committee, Other Participants

3:00 PM

Adjourn

Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Convocation Agenda." National Research Council. 2012. Thinking Evolutionarily: Evolution Education Across the Life Sciences: Summary of a Convocation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13403.
×

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Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Convocation Agenda." National Research Council. 2012. Thinking Evolutionarily: Evolution Education Across the Life Sciences: Summary of a Convocation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13403.
×
Page 69
Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Convocation Agenda." National Research Council. 2012. Thinking Evolutionarily: Evolution Education Across the Life Sciences: Summary of a Convocation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13403.
×
Page 70
Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Convocation Agenda." National Research Council. 2012. Thinking Evolutionarily: Evolution Education Across the Life Sciences: Summary of a Convocation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13403.
×
Page 71
Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Convocation Agenda." National Research Council. 2012. Thinking Evolutionarily: Evolution Education Across the Life Sciences: Summary of a Convocation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13403.
×
Page 72
Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Convocation Agenda." National Research Council. 2012. Thinking Evolutionarily: Evolution Education Across the Life Sciences: Summary of a Convocation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13403.
×
Page 73
Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Convocation Agenda." National Research Council. 2012. Thinking Evolutionarily: Evolution Education Across the Life Sciences: Summary of a Convocation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13403.
×
Page 74
Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Convocation Agenda." National Research Council. 2012. Thinking Evolutionarily: Evolution Education Across the Life Sciences: Summary of a Convocation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13403.
×
Page 75
Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Convocation Agenda." National Research Council. 2012. Thinking Evolutionarily: Evolution Education Across the Life Sciences: Summary of a Convocation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13403.
×
Page 76
Next: Appendix B: Brief Biographies of Committee Members and Staff »
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Evolution is the central unifying theme of biology. Yet today, more than a century and a half after Charles Darwin proposed the idea of evolution through natural selection, the topic is often relegated to a handful of chapters in textbooks and a few class sessions in introductory biology courses, if covered at all. In recent years, a movement has been gaining momentum that is aimed at radically changing this situation.

On October 25-26, 2011, the Board on Life Sciences of the National Research Council and the National Academy of Sciences held a national convocation in Washington, DC, to explore the many issues associated with teaching evolution across the curriculum. Thinking Evolutionarily: Evolution Education Across the Life Sciences: Summary of a Convocation summarizes the goals, presentations, and discussions of the convocation. The goals were to articulate issues, showcase resources that are currently available or under development, and begin to develop a strategic plan for engaging all of the sectors represented at the convocation in future work to make evolution a central focus of all courses in the life sciences, and especially into introductory biology courses at the college and high school levels, though participants also discussed learning in earlier grades and life-long learning.

Thinking Evolutionarily: Evolution Education Across the Life Sciences: Summary of a Convocation covers the broader issues associated with learning about the nature, processes, and limits of science, since understanding evolutionary science requires a more general appreciation of how science works. This report explains the major themes that recurred throughout the convocation, including the structure and content of curricula, the processes of teaching and learning about evolution, the tensions that can arise in the classroom, and the target audiences for evolution education.

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