Unlocking Research University Resources for Educational Projects

1. Tapping Hidden Resources at Research I Universities in the Service of Undergraduate and Precollege Education

2. Declining Revenues/Unmet Needs Require Innovation • UBRP • San Miguel Project • BRAVO! • Fulbright Association • Manduca Project

3. What Research I Universities Have That You Can Use • Enthusiastic, bright, good-willed (for the most part) and generous people (faculty, staff, students) • Interesting research • Equipment • Need to demonstrate their worth in today’s society (requirement to address “broader impacts” in NSF proposals) • Desire to be “good neighbors” • In the case of Land Grant Institutions, the mandate to serve citizens of the state

4. Think of a Project You Want to Launch and for Which You Need Resources, Identify: • Target audience • Goals of project • Who are the stake holders • Who would be interested • Who has something to contribute (gratis)

5. Undergraduate Biology Research Program (UBRP) • Target audience: Undergraduates • Goal: To teach students science by involving them in research • Stake holders: faculty, administrators, students, parents, citizens of Arizona • Who would be interested (all of the above) • Who has something to contribute: all of the above

6. Needs and Resources Tapped to Meet UBRP Needs • Potential research questions: faculty and students • Funds to pay students: Faculty pay 60% of students’ wages and all of research supplies (UBRP pays 40% of wages from external grants) • Administrative expenses: Get matching commitments from UA administrators when proposals submitted • Activities to supplement the research experience (on and off campus field trips, seminars--expertise abundant among faculty and staff)

7. More Resources to support UBRP • Students themselves (labor for conference, images for conference poster, etc) • Alumni & Local organizations (keynote) • Parents • Graphic artist • Bookstore (contributes to conference awards)

8. Still more resources to support UBRP • Custodial staff (help with translation at conference, among other things….)

9. Even more resources to support UBRP • Career networking--Program alumni and community members

10. BRAVO!(International Extension of UBRP) • Uses foreign collaborators to host UA undergrads • University photographer • UA Office of Study Abroad and CESL • Student health center • Humanities Departments • Off campus clubs

11. High School Biology Research Apprentice Program • Uses faculty labs and undergraduate mentors to HS students • Add on to UBRP program (trickle down approach) • Has support of Tucson High and San Miguel High teachers, College of Science Dean

12. Manduca Project • Target audience: elementary school children and their teachers • Goals: To bring more science to elementary school classrooms • Stake holders: all of us but especially children and teachers • Who is interested: Faculty and other research personnel (especially those with kids), teachers • Who has something to contribute: Faculty, research personnel, teachers

13. Manduca Project, continued • Who would be interested: Scientists who are excited about what they are doing; teachers who need assistance with science education; school districts who are interested in collaborations with the university • Who has something to contribute? postdocs, graduates students, undergraduates, teachers, the school district (district credit)

14. Things to Keep in Mind • Be open to new ideas • Stick with projects about which you have enthusiasm • Make a point of having face to face interaction • Keep in mind that everyone has something to contribute! • Always give credit and express appreciation