Fostering systems thinking in student teachers of biology and geography – an intervention study

ABSTRACT

Developing students’ systems thinking is an often-posed demand in education for sustainable development (ESD) and science literacy. Several studies have shown that systems thinking can be fostered in students of different education levels. Therefore, science teachers who are required to teach ESD-relevant topics should be proficient in systems thinking and be able to transfer that knowledge effectively to their students. The research project SysThema (Systems Thinking in Ecological and Multidimensional Areas) investigated the effect of three courses designed to foster systems thinking in student teachers of biology and geography. Courses varied in their proportions of technical fundamentals of system science and didactical content for teaching systems thinking. To conceptualise systems thinking, a heuristic structural competence model for systems thinking was developed. This model served as the basis for a test in evaluating the courses in a quasi-experimental intervention study that employed a pre-, post- and follow-up test control group design. After the completion of the courses, a high effect of fostering systems thinking was found in all treatment groups compared to the control group.     

政府补偿与监管机制改革对公立医疗卫生机构科教与学科建设的影响分析

目的 分析政府补偿与监管机制改革对公立医疗卫生机构教学、科研以及学科建设的影响。方法 通过对上海市闵行区的机构调查,收集并分析2008—2012年3所公立综合性医院和12家社区卫生服务中心的医学教育、科研项目、论文发表及重点学科建设状况的相关数据。结果 闵行区公立综合性医院和社区卫生服务中心的医学教育和科研能力有所提升,重点学科建设也有所加强;但仍然存在教学能力薄弱,科研水平层次偏低,缺乏高质量的重点学科等问题。结论 政府补偿与监管机制改革在一定程度上强化了公立医疗机构的医学教育、科研能力和学科建设,但未来需进一步加大对科教和学科建设的鼓励和支持力度。     

Children’s book series and associated curricula support elementary education and outreach in water resources

Background: Water resources are of fundamental importance to society, and are better managed by stakeholders who understand resource issues. Gaining such knowledge is a lifelong process best begun at an early age and best supported by educational approaches integrating across science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Research scientists can bring resource education to young audiences through children’s books and curricula that emphasise and integrate across STEM principals.

Aims: To encourage empathy for the environment in younger students, researchers at the Niwot Ridge Long Term Ecological Research site have developed a children’s book series and methods for training teachers in water science education.

Methods: Children’s books in the My Water series are paired with curricula, hands-on learning kits, teacher development training and dissemination of materials through school districts to further water science education.

Results: Thousands of children and educators have received training through the My Water book series, and a more broadly focused, federally funded Schoolyard Children’s Book Series has grown out of these efforts towards water resource education.

Conclusions: Children’s books and curricula that integrate STEM principals can play a key role in the development of environmental empathy and lifelong learning to support resource management.     

Nothotalisia, a new genus of Picramniaceae from tropical America

A new genus of Picramniaceae from tropical America, Nothotalisia, is described. Of the three species in the genus, N. piranii and N. cancellata, are new to science. The third, N. peruviana, was originally described as Talisia peruviana in the Sapindaceae. The genus and all three species are described, illustrated, and distinguished by means of a key.     

Revisión del complejo de <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lonchocarpus cruentus</Emphasis> (Leguminosae: Papilionoideae: Millettieae), con descripciónes de cinco especies nuevas

The Lonchocarpus cruentus complex, within sect. Lonchocarpus, is described. This complex is characterized by the presence of a keeled vexillary margin on the pod. Five of the six species described and illustrated are new to science: Lonchocarpus aequatorialis, L. alternifoliolatus, L. guianensis, L. septentrionalis and L. trinitensis. A pronounced flower size difference in the north-south distribution of this complex is shown.     

Cloning humans,cloning literature: genetics and the imagination deficit

Abstract

After the birth of Dolly, media stories on cloning were replete with references to well-known science fiction plots. This essay criticizes the ‘imagination deficit’ of scientists and journalists, first by problematizing the uncritical adoption of attenuated science fiction plots in the media coverage of Dolly, and second, by proposing to look at more expansive science fiction novels that carefully examine issues such as uniqueness and identity in relation to the new genetics.     

Research in Context

Using newspapers in your science classroom;Ruth Jarman and Billy Mclune

Conventional or computer-based rat dissection?;Martin Predavec

Development of knowledge frameworks and higher order cognitive operations;Paul J Bischoff and O Roger Anderson     

From the science of learning (and development) to learning engineering

ABSTRACT

In this issue, Cantor and colleagues synthesize a broad representation of the literature on the science of learning, and how learning changes over the course of development. Their perspective highlights three important factors about the emerging field of science of learning and development: (1) that it draws insights from increasingly diverse fields of research inquiry, from neuroscience and social science to computer science and adversity science; (2) that it provides a means to understand principles that generalize across learners, and yet also allow individual differences in learning to emerge and inform; and (3) that it recognizes that learning occurs in context, and is thus a shared responsibility between the learner, the instructor, and the environment. Here I discuss how this complex systems dynamical perspective can be integrated with the emerging framework of ‘learning engineering’ to provide a blueprint for significant innovations in education.     

New unicapitate species of Rhynchospora (Cyperaceae) from South America

Resolution of species delimitations in theRhynchospora globosa complex has revealed three species new to science from South America:R. bracteovillosa, R. leucoloma, andR. melanocarpa. Each species is described and illustrated and its geographical distribution discussed.     

A new species of Lathyrus L. (Fabaceae) from Central Apennine (Italy)

Abstract

Lathyrus apenninus, from beech woods margins and scrub in the Central Apennine (Italy), is described as a species new to science. The relationship of L. apenninus with L. linifolius, which it had been confused with, is briefly discussed.     

An exploratory study of student teachers’ conceptions of teaching life science outdoors

Abstract

The purpose of this exploratory qualitative study was to investigate elementary student teachers’ conceptions of teaching life science outdoors. The study involved 99 student teachers who were enrolled in an elementary science methods course at a large public university in the United States of America. The study utilised drawings, and narratives to investigate the nature of these teachers’ conceptions. Data analysis revealed that three conceptions of teaching life science were common among the participants: (1) teaching life science is predominantly conceptualised as being situated in the schoolyard, (2) teaching life science outdoors is teacher-directed, and (3) teaching life science outdoors is disconnected from in-class science instruction. Implications include the need for (1) teacher education programmes to provide reflective supports that explicate student teachers’ conceptualisation of teaching life science and thus exposing prior frameworks; and (2) teacher educators to examine student teachers’ prior frameworks for teaching life science outdoors and provide knowledgeable theory and practice platforms that will serve as frameworks for student teachers to adopt, connect and routinize outdoor life science teaching with in-school teaching of life science.     

Inverse Problem in Materials Science

Abstract

The importance of the inverse problem in materials science, that is, the determination of unknown parameters in the physico-chemical models from the experimental values is emphasized. The main attention is given to the problem of how to take into account experimental systematic errors during the inverse problem.     

Exploring continuity equation via a modeling activity: in the context of crowd science

Abstract

Using problems from real life contexts which is related to learners’ environment or their culture plays an important role in their learning that concept. In this regard, science educators especially physics educators search for real-life domain of theoretical concepts for effective science teaching and they consider analogical and physical models as an opportunity in their instruction. In the presented activity, we worked with 66 senior pre-service science teachers from our science teaching methods course. We used crowd movements as a real-life domain of our analogical models to scientifically explain a stampede case, then utilized physical model to explore continuity equation. Real life problem based scenarios could be used while taking advantage of the 3?D modeling in teaching of scientific principle. As a result, we found that pre-service teachers were able to make scientific explanation for causes of stampedes by using modeling activity. High school teachers and upper-level instructors could benefit from including the modeling activity introduced in this study to help their students understand the concepts related to continuity equation by designing a physical model based on an analogical model. Via the physical model, students are able to make predictions, observations, interpretations and explanations of a complex and abstract scientific phenomenon.     

Epidemiological reasoning and biological rationale

Abstract

Studies in which the use of biomarkers resub in faulty epidemiological reasoning are reviewed. The criteria for causal associations in science are discussed.     

Revision of the species of the Tychus rufus group (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae)

The species belonging to Tychus rufus group are revised. Eleven species are recognized, described and illustrated and a key to their identification is provided. Nine taxa are new to science: Tychus carpathius n. sp. from Karpathos island (Greece); T. torticornis n. sp. from Lesbos Island (Greece); T. pisidicus n. sp. and T. inermis n. sp. from southwestern Turkey; T. antiocheus n. sp. and T. effeminatus n. sp. from southeastern Turkey; T. artvinensis n. sp. from northeastern Turkey, and T. sidonicus n. sp. and T. libanus n. sp. from Lebanon.     

Applications of nanobodies in plant science and biotechnology

Key message

Present review summarizes the current applications of nanobodies in plant science and biotechnology, including plant expression of nanobodies, plant biotechnological applications, nanobody-based immunodetection, and nanobody-mediated resistance against plant pathogens.

Abstract

Nanobodies (Nbs) are variable domains of heavy chain-only antibodies (HCAbs) isolated from camelids. In spite of their single domain structure, nanobodies display many unique features, such as small size, high stability, and cryptic epitopes accessibility, which make them ideal for sophisticated applications in plants and animals. In this review, we summarize the current applications of nanobodies in plant science and biotechnology, focusing on nanobody expression in plants, plant biotechnological applications, determination of plant toxins and pathogens, and nanobody-mediated resistance against plant pathogens. Prospects and challenges of nanobody applications in plants are also discussed.

     

Attitudes toward and knowledge of sociobiology among college science professors

Abstract

It appears that there is currently a great deal of renewed interest in the area of sociobiology. It therefore seemed appropriate to assess the attitudes and knowledge of college science professors who are primarily charged with disseminating information in this field. To this end, the present study was undertaken to determine the concepts and opinions held by scientists in various disciplines at the university level. Information was gathered from 79.3% of the 111 sample questionnaires sent out (i.e., 88 questionnaires returned). Respondents were familiar with one or more sociobiologists and felt that sociobiology was indeed a science, although a highly controversial one. A majority expressed the opinion that this science applies to other organisms, but has very limited application to the human species.     

Does self-esteem lead to high achievement of the science college’s students? A study from the six health science colleges

Background and objectiveSelf-esteem refers to a degree to which a person esteem himself or herself, the summation in light of cognizant self-evaluative considerations and feeling or in short as global emotional placement of self. This study investigates the relationship between self-esteem, social factors, and academic achievement in the form of grade point average (GPA) standing for academic achievement in the health science colleges.MethodsThis study is a quantitative cross-sectional design. The study was conducted at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University (PNU), and the participants were health Science Colleges' undergraduate students. The questionnaire is composed of 24 questions in 4 main sections. The self-esteem was evaluated by using a validated Rosenberg Self-Esteem 7-questions Scale used only.ResultsA total of 551 questionnaires were distributed to the students, and 507 of them responded. Out of 507 responded, 7 were excluded due to a lack of the information. 47 (9.4%) were Foundation year students, 109 (21.8%) Medical students, 44 (8.8%) Dental students, 97 (19.4%) Pharmacy students, 101 (20.2%) Nursing students and 102 (20.4%) from Applied science. The students’ overall responses demonstrated that most of the health science students agreed in a positive way of self-esteem (1.68 ± 0.31).ConclusionThe findings from the current study contribute to the resources to better oversee projects to upgrade health sciences students' self-esteem, some short term courses (i.e. English, personality development and motivation) are requested to boost the academic career and confidence by lifting self-esteem; it indirectly helps to better academic performance. Students also need special counseling for how to deal with stress, anxiety and depression.     

Organizational responses to new ocean science and technology developments

Abstract

Rapid developments in ocean science and technology, together with the emerging new ocean regime, present considerable challenges to the international organizational structure. After indicating some recent ocean science and technology developments, the author examines the capacity for organizational response, both within and outside the UN system. Next, the paper identifies aspects of national ocean interests that tend to dictate policies of individual nations toward the responses of these international organizations to new advances. Finally, the author looks to prospects for the 1980s.