Upholding a tradition in which University faculty continue to make extraordinary research contributions in their respective fields, Dr. Michael T. Stevens (left) and Dr. Jim Youngblom (right) of the Department of Biological Sciences are participating in different research projects about science education issues that were highlighted in articles published in the highly-regarded international journal “Science.”

Stevens, whose research expertise includes biology education and plant ecology, participated in a report titled “Science Faculty with Education Specialties” that was published in the December 2008 issue. A greater commitment by university science faculty to focus on science education with increased training opportunities and improved support of research and professional activities could drive education reform at universities and K-12 schools, according to the report by the team of five researchers from the California State University (CSU) system and one from Purdue University.

Youngblom, an expert in genealogical and DNA research, co-authored an October 2008 article titled “Genomics Education Partnership.” He said that genomics is an attractive area for student-scientist partnerships as they study exciting advances in the life sciences and analyze genes, the basic unit of heredity in a living organism.