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