IMPROVING UNDERGRADUATE BIOLOGY EDUCATION IN A LARGE RESEARCH UNIVERSITY

The campus-wide Undergraduate Biology Research Program (UBRP) at the U niversity of Arizona improves undergraduate science education by expan ding student opportunities for independent research in faculty laborat ories. Within the supportive community of a research laboratory, under classmen, nonscience majors, and those aspiring to scientific careers all learn to appreciate the process of science. The Program impacts mo re than the students, promoting departmental cooperation, interdiscipl inary collaborations, and improvements in undergraduate science educat ion throughout a Research I University.