Public perceptions of behavioral enrichment: Assumptions gone awry

More and more, zoos are integrating behavioral enrichment programs into their management routines. Given the newness of such programs on an official level, however, there are an increasing number of enrichment decisions based on assumption. Enrichment is typically not provided on exhibit, especially for exhibits considered to be more naturalistic, because it is assumed to affect visitors' experience negatively. To test that assumption, visitors were interviewed in front of four exhibits—an outdoor barren grotto, an outdoor vegetated grotto, an indoor immersion exhibit, and an outdoor traditional cage—each with either natural, nonnatural or no enrichment objects present. Specifically, we wanted to know whether (1) the exhibit's perceived educational message, (2) the animal's perceived “happiness,” and (3) the visitor perceptions of enrichment, the naturalism of animal's behavior, and zoo animal well-being changed as a function of object type. Overall, the type of enrichment object had little impact on visitor perceptions. In the outdoor barren grotto, only visitor perceptions of exhibit naturalism were affected by object type. In the outdoor vegetated grotto, object type influenced visitors perceptions of enrichment and exhibit naturalism. For the indoor immersion exhibit, general perceptions of enrichment and the perceived naturalism of the animal's behavior were affected. Finally, in the outdoor traditional cage, perceived educational message and general perceptions of enrichment changed as a function of object type. Zoo Biol 17:525–534, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

农业合成生物学研究生课程内容体系建设

为了满足国家在农业领域高质量发展的战略需求,教育部把握经济社会和农业高质量发展趋势,在涉农优势高校布局建设生物育种工程硕博士专业。该专业将首次开设农业合成生物学课程,培养研究生解决生物育种的关键科学与技术问题,引领国家农业创新发展,服务现代农业强国建设。农业合成生物学研究生课程将注重多学科交叉、创新引领、产学研协同发展,培养具有扎实的多学科基础、自主的创新能力及务实的产业化理念的研究生,满足国内外未来农业发展需求,深入开展现代农业科学研究和产业化的未来农业科技人才。     

新经济形势下的生物工程一流专业建设与实践

生物经济的快速发展迫切需要新型生物工程人才支撑,建立以创新型工程教育为理念的新工科人才培养模式,能够为区域经济发展与产业升级提供支撑作用。大连理工大学生物工程学院紧密围绕“服务国家战略”“对接产业行业”“引领未来发展”“以学生为中心”等新工科建设的教育教学理念,从“面向新经济”的培养体系构建、“多学科交叉”的课程体系重构和“项目式”教学方式改革、“多元化”评价体系实施等方面进行生物工程专业建设改革和探索,提出了“价值引领、深厚的基础理论、强烈的创新意识、技术和非技术核心能力素养”四位一体的生物工程新工科人才培养标准。满足了产业对人才多样化、个性化和动态变化的需求,保障了产业与教育的深入融合发展,为生物工程一流本科专业建设提供了思路。     

健康教育在狂犬病预防控制中的价值分析

目的 分析健康教育在狂犬病预防控制中的应用价值.方法 选取2020年1～11月,因动物致伤至我院犬伤处置重点门诊就诊的200例患者作为研究对象,对其开展狂犬病预防相关知识的健康教育,比较健康教育开展前后患者对狂犬病相关知识的知晓情况.结果 经健康教育后,患者对狂犬病相关知识知晓率明显高于健康教育前,差异有统计学意义(P...     

Biotechnology in schools: The UK experience

Biotechnology has gained a significant presence in shcool teaching in the United Kingdom over the past decade. This process has been encouraged by some centrally funded initiatives, but has also been due to the efforts of several independent individuals and groups who have recognized the need to focus on this burgeoning area of scientific research and development, and the contribution that it can make to enlivening the curriculum. Developments in the UK have both benefited from and contributed to similar projects overseas. Biotechnology is set to become increasingly prominent in socio-economic terms for the foreseeable future. It is vital that this is reflected in our educational system and that the preliminary work in this respect is allowed to evolve concurrently.     

Effects of a story-based strategy to enhance pupils’ ability and motivation to read bio-technical texts

This paper reports the results of a survey of the opinions of UK school teachers on the use of living organisms in secondary school science. A total of 285 respondents completed a questionnaire circulated to all members of the Institute of Biology. It was found that the last few years have seen a variety of constraints on the use of living organisms in schools. These include the pressures of time and finance, other effects of the introduction of the National Curriculum (England and Wales), a shortage of skilled technicians and a shift in pupils' perceptions about the ethics and value of the use of animals in schools. Despite all these, most respondents strongly favoured the appropriate use of living materials as an integral part of genuine biology education.     

What Can Zookeepers Tell Us About Interacting With Big Cats in Captivity?

Despite the potential dangers involved, interactions between zookeepers and captive big cats are increasing. Research with other animals, particularly nonhuman primates, suggests that closer interactions can be beneficial not only for the animals and their keepers, but also for zoo visitors. This study sought to determine whether the same benefits may apply to keeper‐big cat interactions. An online questionnaire was completed by 86 keepers worldwide, assessing which types of handling (hands‐on, protected, hands‐off) they practice with their big cats, whether they practice training, and what their opinions of these methods are (through a series of rating scales and open‐ended questions). Protected contact was the most frequently used handling method among this sample, particularly with lions, tigers, and cheetahs, and training was practiced by the majority of participants with all big cat species. Participants perceived protected contact as the most beneficial handling practice for big cats, keepers, and visitors, noting how it can allow a close bond between keeper and cat, as well as its educational value for zoo visitors. Contrastingly, concerns were raised about the use of hands‐on approaches, particularly with regard to the safety of all parties involved and the potential for wrong messages to be sent to visitors. Further, training was reported to be more beneficial for each group than any handling practice, yielding similar potential benefits as protected contact. Consistent with existing information with other species, these findings will be useful in directing objective research examining the use of different handling and training methods with big cats. Zoo Biol. 32:142–151, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Examinations in Higher Education—A Review

Genetic mechanisms in humans are discussed and a different light thrown on some of the more commonly discussed aspects. Attention is drawn to ‘uncertainties’ that are frequently presented as dogma in textbooks.     

The Internationalization of National Biomechanics Day

National Biomechanics Day (NBD) was initiated in 2016 as a nation-wide effort to introduce Biomechanics to high school students throughout the United States. After that initial year, many people around the world joined NBD to promote Biomechanics in their own countries. National Biomechanics Day became international. We describe NBD procedures and events in four of these countries with the intent of demonstrating mechanisms that may enable Biomechanists around the world to successfully join the NBD celebration.