Subject: Summer Research Learning Community

Description:
Are you working in a lab on (or near) campus this Summer? Undergraduate
researchers are invited to join our Summer Research Learning Community.  This
is an opportunity to explore the culture of science and scientific inquiry
with an eye towards understanding how scientific knowledge is developed (i.e.
the epistomology of science).  We'll also be talking about science education
and outreach, with a focus on K-12/higher education partnerships. Having
attended these last year, I can say they address fundamental issues rarely
covered in our formal training.

The Summer Research Learning Community will meet over lunch on Fridays in
July.  Food will be provided.  Participants are encouraged to attend all
three workshops, but can choose to attend fewer.  Each session will be
facilitated by Dr. Mary Stapleton from the Towson University Center for STEM
Excellence and will be interactive with activities and small group
discussions.

Please RSVP to Dr. Mary Stapleton ([log in to unmask]) no later than 48
hours before each workshop.  Lunch will be provided for all those who RSVP
(provided the number is not unexpectedly huge).  Drop-ins are welcome, but
would need to bring their own food.

When and where:  Workshops will take place from noon to 1 pm in room BPS 1208
on:
      - Friday, July 8
      - Friday, July 22
      - Friday, July 29

More about the Summer Research Learning Community
The pursuit of scientific knowledge can often be seen as a lonely endeavor
with rigid protocols and little room for creativity.  In truth, science is
anything but rigid and the most transformative ideas often come from those
who bring a novel, original perspective to a problem.  A deeper understanding
of the ways in which scientists work and scientific knowledge is discovered
affords early career scientists a perspective that will enhance their ability
to do good science.  Our discussions on science education and K-12/higher
education partnerships will stimulate ideas on how we can improve science
teaching and learning at all levels of our educational system.
Financial support for the Community comes from the NSF's Division of
Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS). Though the parent grant supports my
lab's research on the evolution of reproduction, the Community is intended to
encompass science more generally.

Who should attend?  Anyone with an interest in scientific research!  This
includes:
         - Undergraduates participating in a Summer Research Experience
         - K-12 teachers participating in a Summer Research Experience
         - Graduate students
         - Post-Docs
         - Faculty members

Topics that will be discussed include:
�         Is creativity part of the scientific process?
�         How do bias and subjectivity shape our scientific explanations
and theories?
�         Does a universal Scientific Method exist?
�         What are the roles of theories in science?
�         What is new with science teaching and learning in K-12 school
systems?
�         How do K-12/higher education partnerships enhance science
teaching and learning?

Thanks, and we hope to see you a week from today.
Eric Haag

Event Date: July 8, 2016
Event Start Time: 12:00 pm
Event End Time: 1:00 pm
Event Location: 1208 Biology-Psychology
Contact Person: Eric Haag
Contact Email: [log in to unmask]
Contact Phone Number: 301-405-8534
Website URL: http://http://www.towson.edu/fcsm/centers/stem/index.html