Education Programs

AIBS is dedicated to improving biological science literacy at all levels of formal and informal education so that the public is able to make decisions informed by the biological sciences, particularly through an understanding of the process and nature of science and how biology informs societal issues. AIBS works with organizations in biology and across the scientific community to advance knowledge about issues and best practices to improve public understanding of science.

As a result of our work:

• Faculty, education researchers, representatives from scientific societies and others invested in improving the undergraduate introductory biology experience have come together through the Introductory Biology Project


• A team of 40 Vision and Change Leadership Fellows were selected through a peer-review process in part facilitated by AIBS to move institutional reform efforts forward at the departmental level through the Partnership for Undergraduate Life Science Education (PULSE) initiative.


• Over 450 biology and life sciences department leaders provided information about ways in which AIBS can support them as they improve teaching and learning within their departments, which will inform the work of the AIBS Education Committee: Undergraduate Biology Department Leadership Survey


• The general public has access to information that connects biology research with societal issues, increasing their ability to make informed decisions through ActionBioscience.org


• BioScience readers are more aware of successful programs, current issues, and new reports and recommendations in biology education through our Eye on Education articles.


• The Understanding Evolution website has new teaching and learning resources for the undergraduate community.


• Over 800 biology teachers and faculty have received updates from prominent evolutionary biologists that increases their ability to engage students in studying evolutionary biology from the NESCent Evolution Symposium and Teaching Workshop.

AIBS partners and collaborates in the following biology education initiatives:

• American Society for Microbiology's Biology Scholars
• AAAS's BiosciEdNet (BEN)
• Botanical Society of America's Planting Science
• Cyberlearning at Community Colleges
• Ecological Society of America's Ecological Literacy Summit
• National Academy of Sciences' Thinking Evolutionarily: Evolution Education Across the Life Sciences
• PKAL's Sustainability Improves Student Learning in STEM (SISL in STEM)
• Unversity of California Museum of Paleontology's Understanding Science
• University of Oklahoma's Introductory Biology Project

Recent reports that are accelerating biology education reform at the precollege and college levels:

• A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas
• A New Biology for the 21st Century
• AP Biology Course and Exam Revisions
• Vision and Change in Undergraduate Biology Education: A Call to Action
• AAMC/HHMI Scientific Foundation for Future Physicians
• PCAST report: Engage to Excel: Producing One Million Additional College Graduates with Degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics" (PDF)

• AIBS Education Award

AIBS provides information about career options: