Full Program
2008 ASMCUE Final Program (104 page pdf file)
ASMCUE 2008, Endicott College, Beverly, MA
15th Annual American Society for Microbiology Conference for Undergraduate Educators
May 30-June 1, 2008
Conference Steering Committee
Donald P. Breakwell, Ph.D. Brigham Young University, Jennifer Herzog, Ph.D. Herkimer County Community College, Donald Lehman, Ed.D. University of Delaware
An ocean side setting was ideal for celebrating “Fifteen Years of Teaching Excellence” at the 2008 American Society for Microbiology Conference for Undergraduate Educators (ASMCUE). Beautiful Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts is set among woods, rocky outcrops, a lake, and stony beaches. Aside from a Saturday punctuated with rain showers, the weather was warm with an occasional cool sea breeze. All the facilities were within a short walk, so there was plenty of opportunity to enjoy the surroundings.
This year’s conference was particularly well attended with 327 attendees, an almost 25% increase over last year’s meeting. Having the conference at the end of May might have contributed to that because most colleges and universities have finished spring semester. Approximately 42% participants were first timers with eight international visitors also in attendance. We were particularly pleased to have representatives of the American Society of Human Genetics at the conference.
The Microbrew sessions broke new ground. These sessions were a great start to the academic part of the conference. Designed to have educators bring their ideas for and about successful teaching strategies in microbiology and biology education; nine sessions covered topics from course development and research pedagogy to inexpensive labs and service learning. Thank you to all participants for making this a resounding success. The steering committee received many positive comments about these sessions, and we will be addressing requests to increase the number of these session
Our plenary speakers bridged wide-ranging topics from basic science to pedagogical approaches. Stuart Levy (Tufts University School of Medicine) discussed adaptation to and genetics of drug resistance. Colleen Cavanaugh (Harvard University) shared the fascinating chemosynthetic ecology of oceanic volcanic vents. This year’s meeting also saw a panel presentation of genomics initiatives in education. Brad Goodner (Hiram College) spoke about involving undergraduates in genome annotation, Tuajuanda Jordan (Howard Hughes Medical Institute) discussed a phage genome project through HHMI, and Cheryl Kerfeld (Joint Genome Institute) shared “Adopt a (microbial) Genome” project. Ricki Lewis, Alden March Bioethics Institute, and widely published author of life science texts, gave pointed examples of how the media mangles genetics.
In response to feedback from previous participants, this year’s “Learn Something New” sessions focused on updates in microbiology and related disciplines. Larry Aaronson (Utica College) drew from his vast experience on encouraging and mentoring undergraduate researchers. TJ Bliss (University of Nebraska) discussed inquiry-based labs using nematodes and their bacterial symbionts. Charlie Calisher (Colorado State University) made us uneasy with his presentation of emerging viruses and bats. Kathleen Jagger (Transylvania University) and Jeffrey Sich (Maryville University) presented not only topics in current immunology but ways to teach them. Judy Daly (University of Utah) gave us an update on careers in clinical microbiology. Two leaders in genomics education initiatives, Tuajuanda Jordan (Howard Hughes Medical Institute), and Cheryl Kerfeld (Joint Genome Institute) presented forthcoming projects available through their institutions.
The “Try Something New” sessions at ASMCUE are designed to showcase current pedagogical approaches and how to implement them. Using microbial ecology as their model, Mary Allen (Hartwick College) and Ruth Gyure (Western Connecticut State University) presented how to teach experimental design and sampling methods. Dave Baumler (Genome Center of Wisconsin) shared the vast number of genomics tools and resources available to educators. Spencer Benson (University of Maryland) and Alix Darden (The Citadel) enhanced our scholarship of teaching and learning by sharing appropriate rubrics, surveys, and taxonomies in assessment. An application of these ideas, specifically on Bloom’s Taxonomy, was made by Clarissa Dirks (The Evergreen State University). Diane O'Dowd (University of California, Irvine) presented how physical demonstrations and cognitive exercises can be used to engage students in large classes. Ricki Lewis also shared how writing a news release can help students learn genetics. Technological tools for teaching and learning were also presented: Sandra Burnett (Brigham Young University) lead participants through the creation of iLectures, a form of podcasts. Laura Tuhela-Reuning (Ohio Wesleyan University) and Michele Shuster (New Mexico State University) discussed how clickers may be used effectively in different student populations.
This year there were a record number of posters in three sessions. The scholarship of teaching and learning was well exhibited as an increasing number of submissions had appropriate assessment and demonstrable outcomes. Our sincere thanks to those who participated as abstract reviewers and on the travel award committee.
Congratulations to this year’s travel award winners. The ASMCUE Textbook Travel Award, generously donated by several text book authors, was awarded to Paul Lepp (Minot State University). Faculty Enhancement Program Awardees were Ruth Negley (Harrisburg Area Community College), Angela NewMyer (St. Louis Community College at Forest Park) and Sherrie Sprangers (University of Maine – Machias). Early-Career Travel Awardees were Min Cao (Clemson University), Sylvia Franke (Skidmore College), Elizabeth Joyce (Stanford University), Samantha Kerry (St. Mary’s College of Maryland), Barbara May (St. John’s University/College of St. Benedict), Kimberly Metera (Durham Technical Community College), Amy Miller (University of Cincinnati), Kimberly Murphy (Waldorf College), Traci Ness (Armstrong Atlantic State University), and Michele Zwolinski (Weber State University). Travel awards were also generously granted by the Northeast Branch of ASM and the American Society for Human Genetics.
Our sincere appreciation goes to President Richard Wylie of Endicott College who literally opened doors for our visit to Beverly, MA and made a gracious host. We also thank the local planning committee Dr. Peter Eden, Dean of Arts and Sciences, and our own Joyce Shaw who initially suggested Endicott College.
As always we are indebted to the following for their continuing support of this conference: Neil Baker (Chair of ASM Education Board); Kelly Cowan (Chair of Undergraduate Education); and Amy Chang, Kelly Gull, Michelle Godinez, Leslie Robinson and Jean Kayira of the ASM Education Department.
Planning has already begun on ASMCUE 2009 and we invite ideas from participants for sessions and speakers. Please submit your ideas to: educationresources@asmusa.org. We hope that attendees from previous meetings will return in 2009 and that they bring a colleague with them. Next year’s meeting will be held May 28-31, 2009, at a site yet to be determined.
The following speakers have made their presentations available to us:
Mary Allen, Hartwick College
Ruth Gyure, Western Connecticut State University
Using Microbial Ecology to Teach Experimental Design and Sampling Methods (Website)
Larry Aaronson, Utica College
Encouraging Undergraduate Research: A Mentor's Guide (PowerPoint)
Dave Baumler, Genome Center of Wisconsin
The Genomics Era: A Vast Resource for Educators (PowerPoint)
Annotation of Bacteriophage 933W - Session 1 (Handout)
Annotation of Bacteriophage 933W - Session 2 (Handout)
Spencer Benson, University of Maryland
Alix Darden, The Citadel
Assessment: Rubrics, Surveys, Taxonomies (Handout)
Sandra Burnett, Brigham Young University
iLecture: Make your Own PodCast Lecture for Class (Handout)
Charlie Calisher, Colorado State University
Bats: Recently Recognized Sources of Emerging Viruses (Handout)
Bats: Important Reservoir Hosts of Emerging Viruses (PowerPoint)
Judy A. Daly, Primary Children's Medical Center
The Shortage of Medical Technologists: How Useful is a Microbiology BS in my lab? (PowerPoint)
FilmArray (PowerPoint)
FilmArray: Automated PCR (PowerPoint)
FilmArray - Nested Multiplex PCR for Multi-pathogen Screening (PowerPoint)
Kathleen Jagger, Transylvania University
Jeffrey J. Sich, Maryville University
Clues to Understanding the Innate Immune Response (PowerPoint)
Generation of Diversity (GOD): How to Ensure Nonreactivity with Self (PowerPoint)
Evaluating Vaccine Prospects for Malaria and Tuberculosis (PowerPoint)
Dealing with Low Signal to Noise Ratio: Muscosal Immune Responses & Homeostasis (PowerPoint)
Tuajuanda Jordan, HHMI
Undergraduate Involvement in Genomics & Bioinformatics-Now is the Time (PowerPoint)
HHMI Phage Genomics Research Initiative (PowerPoint)
Ricki Lewis, Fellow, Alden March Bioethics Institute at Albany Medical Center
Writing a News Release as a Way to Learn Genetics (Handout)
Multi-Institutional Study Led by Weill Cornell Researchers Identifies New Form of Inherited Risk of Cancer (Handout)
The Signatures of Autozygosity among Patients with Colorectal Cancer (Handout)
blog.bioethics.net
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