Not only were the seminars a good review of my understanding of these topics, but I learned how biomedical research can advance human health tremendously. With increased understanding of the details, it's still crucial to see the big picture.
- SFUSD teacher
It was great practice in trying to explain what I do to a group of interested non-scientists: figuring out what background information would be needed, how to explain why I think it’s an interesting question, and how to best illustrate what we already know.
- Scientist presenter
Every time I’ve attended a seminar, I’ve brought something back to my classroom either an activity or information.
- SFUSD teacher
Overview
Like many of SEP’s programs, CSSS was designed to provide synergistic benefits to UCSF early-career scientists as well as to the SFUSD teachers attending the series.
Through the series, speakers have the opportunity to develop a unique seminar, one that actively engages its audience in thinking about, discussing, and in some cases "doing" science. Moreover, each speaker receives feedback on their seminar from education experts, the teachers participating in the series, to help them as they prepare future presentations.
Teacher participants increase their knowledge of current advancements in biomedical research, often infusing this new knowledge into their biology curriculum, and develop connections both with teachers from other school sites and with UCSF scientists.
High school teachers are encouraged to bring up to two students from their science classes to each of the seminars. This experience builds students familiarity with the university campus and college-level learning, develops their knowledge of current topics in biomedical research and their awareness of how scientific progress is made, and exposes them to university level research scientist role models.
Seminars are targeted at the level of a science major (non-specialist though knowledgeable audience).
Evaluation of CSSS has demonstrated many benefits for the teachers who attend.
Outcomes for Teachers include:
- sparking their interest in learning more about one or more of the seminar topics (86%)
- conveying the dynamic nature of scientific knowledge or understanding (100%)
- planning to read scientific or medical news/magazines/journals more than they do now (72%)
- better understanding the science concepts that underlie the curriculum they teach in their classroom (100%)
All teachers (100%) agreed that they would recommend this series to their peers.
Participating teachers also report benefits for their students who attend the seminars:
- 100% of teachers strongly agreed/agreed that the participating students broadened their awareness of the dynamic nature of scientific knowledge and understanding.
- 72% of teachers strongly agreed/agreed that having students participate along with teachers enhanced their own learning experience.
Evaluation of the CSSS program demonstrates many benefits for scientist presenters.
Outcomes for Scientist Presenters include :
- having new ideas for how to translate current research to a non-research audience (100%).
- a better understanding of how to adapt their teaching strategies to diverse populations (86%).
- gaining new skills or enhancing their skills to effectively integrate inquiry with content in their teaching (86%).
The 2008-2009 Seminar Series
| Date | Presenter | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 18th | Sheila Jaswal, Ph.D. |
Protein Folding: Life’s Origami |
Dec 11th |
Brad Stohr |
How can we stop the growth of cancer cells? |
Jan 28th |
Sebastian Schuck, Ph.D. |
Intracellular Protein Sorting: How the cell postal service works |
Feb 19th |
Carol Cho |
Molecular Motors Traveling the Highways of the Cell |
March 24th |
Deepika Ahuja Ph.D. |
Metastasis: How cancerous cells invade other parts of the body |
April 22nd |
Timothy Warren |
How Do Songbirds Learn Their Songs? |
May 21st |
Tom Goddard, Ph.D. |
*3DVirtual Reality: See, Hold and Feel Viruses |
All seminars are recorded. DVDs of past seminars are available for check-out through the Daly Ralston Resource Center.
Teachers are asked to register (themselves and their students) one-week in advance of each seminar as dinner and parking vouchers are provided to participants. Teachers that attend five or more seminars receive a small stipend.
To register to attend a seminar, contact:
Patricia Caldera
(415) 502-6690