The goal of this Research Coordination Network is to bridge the divide between research and education with authentic research experiences in introductory biology.

We will use a series of workshop meetings to bridge the divide between the biology education community and disciplinary researchers in biology. By bridging this divide, new models for authentic research in introductory laboratory courses will be developed and new faculty will become engaged in implementing these experiences.

In each year, one workshop will be hosted in association with an annual meeting of the biology education community and disciplinary researchers in biology will be actively recruited to attend. A second workshop will be hosted in association with a biology disciplinary society and members of the biology education community will be actively recruited to attend. Finally, to advance the field of biology education research in relation to authentic research experiences in laboratory courses, a meeting among disciplinary biology researchers, biology education researchers, and biology education practitioners will be held in association with the Society for the Advancement of Biology Education Research.

If you are also interested in fostering authentic research experiences in introductory biology laboratory courses at your institution, please peruse research course models, apply with a team from your institution to research course development workshops, or contact us.