Summary:
Eight biology teachers from across Alberta attended the 2nd annual Alberta Ingenuity Summer Institute in Biology Education. During the 10-day institute, teachers explored current research on evolution and population change with Dr. Lawrence Harder, Professor of Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Calgary, Corey Corbet and Natalia Chaikina, graduate students working with Dr. Kathreen Ruckstuhl, Associate Director of the Biogeoscience Institute, and Dr. Stephen Matter, Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati.

The teachers were also provided opportunity to apply the research concepts and skills to their classroom, by working with Dr. Susan Barker, Professor of Science Education, Department of Secondary Education, University of Alberta, to develop lesson plans for their biology classes. The lesson plans are being classroom-tested during the 2007-2008 school year and upon revision will be published on the website www.EcologyConnections.ca for other biology teachers to access.

Funding for teachers to attend the institute was provided through a 3-year Alberta Ingenuity Science and Engineering Community Development grant to the University of Calgary Biogeoscience Institute. The institute was co-hosted by the University of Calgary Biogeoscience Institute (BGS), and the University of Alberta Faculty of Education Department of Secondary Education.