Undergraduate students are increasingly aware of complex global challenges and have a strong desire to take action and create change. Course-based undergraduate research experiences can offer a wide range of students the opportunity to gain skills needed to address these challenges. At a small liberal arts college in New England, we developed the…

Lab components of undergraduate science courses typically have students complete highly directed cookbook-like laboratory activities. These experiences rarely engage students in a meaningful manner and do not accurately convey what the work of science entails. With funding from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), we have created more…

This paper discusses a novel structure for providing a high-impact, first year experience for science students. ASTER (Access to Science Through Experience in Research) is an extracurricular certification program designed to introduce our students to the research culture via seminar attendance, journal clubs, book clubs, and lab visits.…

Describes an SOS project, "Arsenic in Waters, Soils, Biota, and Wastes of Chautauqua County, New York," sponsored by the National Science Foundation. (CS)

Provides insights for college-level teachers beginning their tasks of directing student research. (PR)

Describes the use of "contracting" as a method to remind students of the importance of independent investigations. The contract is an agreement for learning between the student and professor. (PR)

Presents an experimental design for feeding experiments requiring minimal equipment, small numbers of animals, and limited expenses. These projects provide insights into animal nutrition, food selection, animal behavior and animal husbandry. (Author/GS)

Suggests a method for students to engage in research projects and orally present results in class. The basic idea is to have students work on individual projects around a central theme. Describes 20 projects centered around the halogenation of ketones. (Author/JN)

Describes 15 innovative college science programs identified by the Society of College Science Teachers. Gives nine generalizations regarding the programs. (YP)

Describes a program at Drew University, in which retired scientists receive offices, research space, and equipment in exchange for directing the research of advanced undergraduates. (PR)

Discusses a role-playing technique used in a physics of music course that introduces students in a course for nonscientists to the thought processes and experiences of being a scientist. Students select a research project and present results as a journal article or an oral presentation at a scientific "meeting." (Author/JN)

Describes a program that involved classroom instruction in advanced mathematics, a visit to the Mathematical Sciences section of Oak Ridge Laboratory, talks by faculty members on their interests, work with mentors on student research activities, and various recreational activities. Includes a list of projects and students participating. (RT)

Reports on a project, funded by the National Science Foundation, being conducted at Argonne National Laboratory to encourage physically handicapped students to undertake careers in science, mathematics, and engineering. (Author/SK)

Describes two-semester sequence of half-credit (two semester hours) seminars offered during spring/fall of the junior/senior years. Junior seminar emphasizes oral communication; introduces students to origins, ideas, and processes of biology; and to how biology influences values/ethics of individuals and society. Senior seminar provides…