SEER Center Director, Paula Lemons, Co-PI on $3M NSF Grant to Transform STEM Education

Dr. Paula Lemons (Biochemistry & Molecular Biology), Director of SEER Center and OIBR Fellow, received a $3M NSF grant for her project, “STEM Education at a Research 1 University through Multi-Level Action Teams”  to help students better develop STEM knowledge and skills using active learning methodologies.

This project is truly exemplary of interdisciplinary research with four Co-PIs including OIBR Fellow Dr. Erin Dolan (Biochemistry & Molecular Biology), OIBR Affiliate Dr. Tessa Andrews (Genetics), OIBR Affiliate Dr. Peggy Brickman (Plant Biology), Dr. Sarah Covert (Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs) and eight Co-Is from Chemistry, Mathematics, Mathematics and Science Education, Physics and Astronomy, Statistics, Entomology seek to transform STEM education research on campus and nationwide. This research team will work with senior administrators as well as department heads and other faculty members to bring the total number of collaborators to more than 100 over five years.

Beginning in fall 2019, students who take courses in the fields of  biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, mathematics and statistics will begin to see an increased use of active learning methods in their classroom. The research project will continue through 2024, and its long-term goal is to inspire a culture change in the way that STEM courses are taught by faculty and supported by departments and the institution.

To read more about this exciting STEM research project, go here.