Advances in Physiology Education, Vol 263, Issue 6 3-S6, Copyright © 1992 by American Physiological Society
A faculty research and training program for undergraduates in the sciences
W. C. Randall and S. L. Burden
Department of Biology, Taylor University, Upland, Indiana 46989.
Faculty enthusiasm, with actual hands-on involvement, is a critical factor
in establishing student research interest and excitement in a university or
college science environment. Such faculty involvement is infectious to
students and therefore key to restoring United States leadership in science
and technology in the next decades. Most scientists acknowledge that they
were initially attracted into scientific careers through one or two notable
teachers who served as role models. However, with the introduction of
so-called "big science" and its distraction of university faculty away from
meaningful, direct student contacts, and with associated withdrawal of
funding from "little science" in the college teacher's laboratory, research
languishes in nearly all undergraduate teaching institutions. The inspiring
college science teacher seems essentially gone, tired or burnt out, unable
to keep pace with the rigorous demands of an active research lab while
simultaneously meeting the exhausting load of 15-18 (or more) contact
teaching hours per week. With all of the associated lecture preparations,
student counseling, and Dean's committee assignments, the teacher has
little or no scholarly "think time" or opportunity to inspire even the
bright students. Without the teacher's honest and evident involvement and
deep commitment, the student fails to experience the essential impact of a
convincing role model. It is therefore necessary to restore the college
science teacher's opportunity and aspirations to be personally involved in
research. This can only be accomplished by providing time, facilities,
incentives, and encouragement to do what originally attracted the teacher
into a career in science and teaching in the first place.(ABSTRACT
TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
