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Background
In 1989, four historically minority universities and the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill joined forces to introduce biomolecular science
into high school and college classrooms. After five years of dedicated
cooperation, the group earned a grant renewal from the Howard
Hughes Medical Institute. With these funds in hand, the partners
transformed a small, experimental program into a formal alliance of
eight
universities called the Partnership for Minority Advancement in
the Biomolecular Sciences. With HHMI's continuing support, PMABS has
now extended its efforts to include an instructional technology laboratory,
a postdoctoral training program, and a traveling science laboratory.
These initiatives build upon the principle that quality education
depends upon knowledgeable teachers, cutting-edge curricula, and excellent
resources with which to "do" science.
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PMABS collaborates with partner universities in a range of interrelated
activities designed to build and sustain the infrastructure of their biology
departments. These include:
Offering research internships and teaching assistantships so
that undergraduates can experience the research culture, develop research
skills, and present research findings at local and national scientific
conferences;
Providing professional development workshops on grant writing,
negotiation, Internet use, and the like for HMU faculty;
Developing ndergraduate courses (e.g., 'Frontiers in the Biomolecular
Sciences' and 'Biology Capstone Laboratory') that provide students with
content and training, including writing and computer skills, needed to
navigate the specialized world of biomolecular research;
Equipping undergraduate instructional laboratories for use by
HMU students in these PMABS-supported courses. These laboratories also
host fieldtrips by classes from area schools using the PMABS-supported
CityLab curriculum.
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In collaboration with seven of North Carolina's historically minority
universities, CELL aims to contribute to achieving diversity in science
careers. CELL explores the use of existing and emerging technologies to
facilitate equity of access to cutting-edge biomolecular sciences, as a
means of contributing to the reform of undergraduate science education.
Drawing upon the multidisciplinary expertise of its staff, CELL embraces
innovative pedagogical and technological approaches to create engaging
and interactive bioscience curricula and educational resources. Read
more on CELL's Web site.
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SPIRE is an innovative post-doc training program that combines traditional
research at UNC-CH with teaching at seven of North Carolina's historically
minority universities. SPIRE is designed to support PMABS' partner universities
in their development of underrepresented students in the life sciences.
Mentored by HMU biology faculty, SPIRE post-docs will bring their research
and instructional training to classrooms at partner HMUs. SPIRE is funded
by an award of $4,005,000 from the Minority Opportunities in Research Division
at NIGMS. We invite you to find
out more on SPIRE's Web site.
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The Secondary Science Educator Program introduces North Carolina
high school and middle school teachers to PMABS' curriculum portfolio (including
CityLab),
provides funds for implementing the curriculum in participating teachers'
classrooms, and organizes field trips to labs at regional HMUs for the
students in these teachers' classes. Read more about SSEP
workshops.
Destiny, the Traveling Science Laboratory, is an innovative outreach
program that brings contemporary teaching techniques and tools to Tar Heel
public schools that are underserved in the sciences. In collaboration with
a network of trained teachers, this 40-foot-long, custom-equipped vehicle
supports hands-on, inquiry-based learning and delivers innovative science
modules and Internet access. Take
a virtual tour on Destiny's Web site.
Make a WHISE Investment materials produced by PMABS help school
systems and other advocates for secondary science education learn about
innovative curricula and the equipment and supplies needed. Download
a PDF of Make a WHISE
Investment in . . . The Case of the Crooked Cell.
