Ethics Workshops

Because of the essential connection between research and ethics, Saint Mary’s REU participants will take part in several ethics workshops.  During the first week of the program, students will participate in a half-day workshop presented by the Center for Theology and Natural Science, affiliated with the Graduate Theological Union, at UC Berkeley.  There will be three follow-up meetings throughout the 10-week program, facilitated by Dr. Margaret Race. 

Students will:

1. •explore ethical aspects of scientific research
   

2. •explore ethical concerns that arise as a consequence of current research and technology
   

by:

1. •discussing case studies
   

2. •carrying out role-playing activities
   

to be able to:

1. •identify potential ethical dilemmas
   

2. •develop, discuss, and analyze solutions to ethical issues

People

Dr. Margaret Race is a Research Associate in the School of Science at Saint Mary’s College, an ecologist and Principal Investigator at SETI Institute, and works with NASA on planetary protection and risk communication. Her current work focuses on planetary protection, legal and societal issues, risk communication, and education related to astrobiology, solar system exploration, and the search for extraterrestrial life. Her teaching and research career over three decades has focused on policy issues and environmental impact analyses on issues including genetic engineering, agriculture and natural resource management, coastal zone policy, space mission planning, biodefense, global change and nuclear power. In the past decade, she has served on numerous NASA and National Research Council studies analyzing environmental management and contamination control issues both on Earth and other solar system bodies. Throughout her career, Dr. Race has been actively involved in science education and public outreach through mass media, K-12 schools, universities, museums, and public presentations. As an REU mentor, Dr. Race will work with students to help them extend beyond basic science experiences to consider policy implications, ethical considerations, and science communication needs, using diverse case examples from her research and experiences.

Dr. Gemma Niermann is a biologist and Adjunct Professor in Saint Mary's Kalmanovitz School of Education. She also is affiliated with the Integrative Biology Department at UC Berkeley where she teaches Human Genetics. Dr. Niermann has trained undergraduates in lab and basic education techniques, and she has been teaching education students at Saint Mary’s for two decades. Dr. Niermann has a California teaching credential in science, and she taught science in public schools for 11 years. For the Bay Bridge REU, Dr. Niermann will be conducting the education sessions, and overseeing the program evaluation.

Education Workshops

Because the Bay Bridge REU program will include participants who are considering teaching science as a profession, we will incorporate a series of workshops dedicated to educational themes.  For those participants who intend to pursue a career in research, these workshops will offer valuable insights that can be applied to any type of presentation or teaching opportunity.  Dr. Gemma Niermann will lead four education workshops.  These evening sessions will introduce participants to methods of teaching science lessons. Students will use materials from established programs including the Science Education for Public Understanding Program (SEPUP) from the Lawrence Hall of Science at UC Berkeley, Project WET (Water Education for Teachers), and Project Learning Tree.  Students will experience project-based and problem-based science lessons, discuss the learning opportunities created by these activities, and explore how to apply these approaches to other topics or other audiences.  Students will also consider the relevance of research projects in general, and their own projects in particular, to middle and high school science curricula.

Activities

In addition to the research, participants will engage in a variety of other activities, both social and professional, as well as education seminars and ethics workshops.  Some activities include:

1. •outdoor adventures in the Bay Area
   

2. •barbecues, ice cream socials, movie nights, and more
   

3. •weekly meetings to discuss research progress
   

4. •workshops on experiment design and statistical analysis
   

5. •graduate school planning
   

6. •visits to local industry or government laboratories
   

7. •special behind-the-scenes field trip to science museum focusing on communication of science to the general public
   

8. •workshops on oral, written, and poster presentations of research
   

9. •experience with oral, written, and poster presentations of research
   

10. •opportunities for outreach activities