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Education |
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APS Presents
Awards to Outstanding High School Students at the 57th Annual
International Science and Engineering Fair |
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APS Presents Awards to Outstanding High School Students at the |
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The 57th Annual International Science and
Engineering Fair (ISEF) was held in Indianapolis, IN May 8-12, 2006. Nearly
1,500 students from 47 countries, regions and territories competed in the
world’s largest pre-college science competition awards. During the two
evenings of awards ceremonies, over $4 million in scholarships, cash prizes,
and awards were distributed, including scholarships, cash, scientific field
trips and the grand prizes: two $25,000 awards sponsored by Ricoh and three
$50,000 scholarships from Intel. Grand Awards in each of 14 categories
ranging from $500 to $5,000 were presented by the Intel Foundation, Ricoh,
Shell Oil, and Merck. Special Awards are presented by over 70 organizations
and include scholarships, summer internships, book and equipment grants, and
scientific field trips. The APS has provided ISEF awards in physiology since
1991. In 2006, the APS presented four awards in the form of cash prizes, plaques, and student subscriptions for the best projects in the physiological sciences. This year’s APS judging team was Nancy Kanagy, University of New Mexico, who acted as lead judge and fellow judges: Britt Wilson from the University of South Carolina along with Subah Packer, Stephen Kempson, Robert Bigsby and Joseph Unthank all from Indiana University-Purdue University of Indianapolis.
The city of Indianapolis was bristling with
the energy and enthusiasm of the nearly 3,000 students and judging
scientists crowded into the Indianapolis Convention Center. During the week,
students were interviewed multiple times by judges, treated to tours of the
Indianapolis Speedway, and participated in a panel discussion featuring
several Nobel Laureates. As judges, we previewed almost 200 projects to
select 19 that best fit the category of “physiology.” We interviewed each
finalist to evaluate their involvement in the study and to determine their
understanding of the science and experimental of the project. After two days
of interviews, we chose these projects to receive APS awards for excellence
in physiological research.
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Arthur C. Guyton Physiology Educator of the Year Award Call for Nominations |
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The Teaching Section of the American Physiological
Society invites you to nominate a fellow physiology educator the Fifteenth
Annual Arthur C. Guyton Physiology Educator of the Year Award. Nominees must be faculty members of accredited colleges or universities and members of the American Physiological Society. The Selection Committee will look for independent evidence of: (1) excellence in classroom teaching over a number of years at undergraduate, graduate, or professional levels; (2) commitment to the improvement of physiology teaching within the candidate’s own institution; and (3) contributions to physiology education at the local community, national, or international levels. In the past, all nominees have shown excellence in teaching and have made significant contributions in student advisement, graduate education, and/or curriculum design and reform at their institution. Consequently, the activities that distinguish a candidate in the rankings include outreach activities at the state, national, or international level; contributions to education through APS activities; peer-reviewed educational journal articles; and widely disseminated publications such as commercially produced textbooks, lab manuals, or software. Each nominee must be nominated by a member of APS. The Nominator should send a letter of support outlining the qualifications of the nominee to the Chair of the Award Selection Committee, no later than Wednesday, November 15, 2006. The Candidate will be asked to submit a portfolio that includes a statement of teaching philosophy and achievements; summaries of student evaluations, teaching honors and awards; and evidence of education-related activities outside the classroom. Letters of support from colleagues and, if desired, students of the candidate will also be requested. The committee requests electronic submission of all material by January 15, 2007. The person selected will receive the award during the APS business meeting at the April 2007 annual meeting of the American Physiological Society (Experimental Biology 2007, April 28 – May 2 in Washington, DC). The Arthur C. Guyton Physiology Educator of the Year will receive a framed, inscribed certificate, an honorarium of $1,000 and expenses of up to $600 to attend the meeting. The awardee is requested to write an essay on his/her philosophy of education for publication in The Physiologist. The Chair of the Guyton Award Selection Committee is Vikki McCleary, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Therapeutics, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Email: vmccleary@medicine.nodak.edu, Tel.: 701-777-4293, Fax: 701-777-4490. Previous Awardees: 2006 Daniel R. Richardson; 2005 Robert W. Gore; 2004 Robert G. Carroll; 2003 George A. Ordway; and 2002 John West. |
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A Fizzy What? 13 Steps to Getting “Physiology” into the Public Vocabulary Hannah V. Carey and Francis L. Belloni |
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We’ve all received blank stares and puzzled looks
when we tell our friends, neighbors and even family members that we are
physiologists. Obviously, this presents a problem for the profession. If people don’t know what we do, we risk losing young minds to other professions. And with competition for grant funding becoming more demanding, having physiology as a recognizable and well-respected science is more important than ever. While the problem of unfamiliarity with physiology may seem a bit overwhelming, each of us can do a lot to spread the word. Society President Dale A. Benos has called for increased member activism to promote the important role physiology plays in our lives and to get the general public excited about our discipline. Here’s are a baker’s-dozen steps each APS member can take to enhance public perception of physiology: 1. Focus first on your neighbors, friends and family members and then expand from there. Tell your story to people close to you. They will pick up on your enthusiasm for science and physiology and value it. 2. As you become more comfortable, start giving talks at school events and civic organizations in your community. Start to talk to your local media. The APS Communications Office can assist you with tips on how to talk to the public and the media. 3. Identify yourself as a physiologist. Mention APS and its programs, including the awards, educational and career development programs. 4. Say “physiology” as often as you can. Explain what physiology is and give examples of how physiology affects the lives of the people you’re talking to, the lives of their animals and pets, and the larger ecosystem. 5. Join your institution’s speakers’ bureau and include APS as a resource in your talk or slide presentation. 6. Meet with your legislators when opportunities arise to discuss the value of science and physiology. Describe how bioscience and our physiology in particular affect the health and economic well-being of their local regions and the nation. 7. Be ready, if necessary, to respond to questions regarding use of animals in research. 8. Encourage other scientists you know (especially physiologists) to join APS by explaining the valuable work the Society does. 9. Check the APS web site frequently for new and updated information that you can use in your public outreach. The Society plans to develop a downloadable slide presentation you can use for speaking engagements “as is” or with your own modifications. The slide presentation will include specific examples of how advances in the physiological sciences have made an impact. 10. Let APS know when you give presentations, and mention what worked and what didn’t. Simply send an email to one of the Communications Office staff. 11. Include links on your own or your lab’s website to the APS website, PhysiologyINFO.org and other physiology resources. 12. Get involved in APS through your interest section or by volunteering for one of the APS committees. 13. Consider joining a state-wide biomedical research association if there is one in your region (see http://www.statesforbiomed.org/) for more assistance in public outreach, and opportunities to talk with local and national representatives who affect science policy and research funding. The Communications web site (Press Room, under “Member Resources” http://www.the-aps.org/press/) already has the beginning of an APS “toolkit” with tips to help members who are ready to talk to the press get started. You can also use the information on the Communications/Press Room website and http://www.physiologyINFO.org to help formulate your talks. There are Power Point templates available for use in talking to undergraduates about choosing physiology as a career at http://www.the-aps.org/education/undergrad/outreach.html in the APS Education website. The Society has developed a Timeline of Physiology and is developing other helpful materials and programs, including a timelines of sectional sub-disciplines and a partnership with States United for Biomedical Research to train physiologists on the art of speaking out. With positive experiences in your first public speaking steps, you will have the confidence to act as a spokesperson for physiology before larger and more diverse audiences later on. |
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The APS held its first undergraduate student
retreat as part of its overall effort to increase undergraduate interest in
physiology studies and careers, The Explorations in Biomedicine Undergraduate
Physiology Retreat was held at the Sheraton Denver Cherry Creek Hotel in Denver,
CO on June 9-11, 2006. A group of 40 undergraduates from across the US,
including Alaska, and their advisors joined members of the APS Education and
Career Opportunities in Physiology Committee at the retreat. The workshop was
especially designed to attract Native American and other minority students. APS
members in various physiology careers also came to talk about opportunities in
physiology. Three APS members gave plenary talks on hot topics in biomedical research. L. Gabriel Navar (Tulane University) talked on “High Blood Pressure, Cardiovascular Health and Kidney Function”; Barbara Horwitz (University of California, Davis) discussed “Obesity & Diabetes: The Good, the Bad, & the Unknown”; and Gregory Florant (Colorado State University) presented, “To be Fit and Fat: Physiological Consequences of Obesity in Mammalian Hibernators.” Robert Carroll (East Carolina University) led the undergraduates and faculty in hands-on experiments on the cardiovascular system entitled, “The Elvis Experiments.” Marsha Lakes Matyas (APS) led the group in “A Kidney Under Pressure,” a clinical discovery unit. Thomas Schmidt (University of Iowa) discussed career opportunities in physiology and then invited the students to join round table discussions about specific careers with the following physiologists: Rayna Gonzales (University of California, Irvine), Rudy Ortiz (University of California, Merced), Keri Kles Poi (Eli Lilly and Co.), Rolando Rumbaut (Baylor College of Medicine), and Mesia Moore Steed (University of Louisville), as well as the three plenary speakers. Overall, students found the weekend both useful and enjoyable. One student said, “I really liked being able to talk with PhD’s about their research to learn more and different techniques that are used…” Another student commented, “I truly enjoyed this conference. All of the speakers were very interesting and provided us with interesting facts and info. The hands on activities were fun! What a cool way to engage us. Thank you for making this opportunity available to us.” Funding for the retreat was provided by the National Institute for General Medical Sciences.
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APS/NIDDK
Minority Travel Fellows Attend the |
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The APS held its first undergraduate student
retreat as part of its overall effort to increase undergraduate interest in
physiology studies and careers, The Explorations in Biomedicine Undergraduate
Physiology Retreat was held at the Sheraton Denver Cherry Creek Hotel in Denver,
CO on June 9-11, 2006. A group of 40 undergraduates from across the US,
including Alaska, and their advisors joined members of the APS Education and
Career Opportunities in Physiology Committee at the retreat. The workshop was
especially designed to attract Native American and other minority students. APS
members in various physiology careers also came to talk about opportunities in
physiology. Three APS members gave plenary talks on hot topics in biomedical research. L. Gabriel Navar (Tulane University) talked on “High Blood Pressure, Cardiovascular Health and Kidney Function”; Barbara Horwitz (University of California, Davis) discussed “Obesity & Diabetes: The Good, the Bad, & the Unknown”; and Gregory Florant (Colorado State University) presented, “To be Fit and Fat: Physiological Consequences of Obesity in Mammalian Hibernators.” Robert Carroll (East Carolina University) led the undergraduates and faculty in hands-on experiments on the cardiovascular system entitled, “The Elvis Experiments.” Marsha Lakes Matyas (APS) led the group in “A Kidney Under Pressure,” a clinical discovery unit. Thomas Schmidt (University of Iowa) discussed career opportunities in physiology and then invited the students to join round table discussions about specific careers with the following physiologists: Rayna Gonzales (University of California, Irvine), Rudy Ortiz (University of California, Merced), Keri Kles Poi (Eli Lilly and Co.), Rolando Rumbaut (Baylor College of Medicine), and Mesia Moore Steed (University of Louisville), as well as the three plenary speakers. Overall, students found the weekend both useful and enjoyable. One student said, “I really liked being able to talk with PhD’s about their research to learn more and different techniques that are used…” Another student commented, “I truly enjoyed this conference. All of the speakers were very interesting and provided us with interesting facts and info. The hands on activities were fun! What a cool way to engage us. Thank you for making this opportunity available to us.” Funding for the retreat was provided by the National Institute for General Medical Sciences. |
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Announcing the APS Professional Skills Training for Minority Students |
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Do you want to...?
The APS K-12 Minority Outreach Fellowship seeks
to foster communication between minority graduate and postdoctoral students and
middle/high school minority life sciences students. Program activities include
year-long outreach fellowships for senior graduate students and postdoctoral
fellows to visit K-12 classrooms, help conduct teacher professional development
workshops, and attend scientific meetings.
Who can apply? |
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