The Many Paths to Success ust as biology has found unifying themes in the function of DNA, the process of natural selection, and the dynamics of ecosystems, so biology education has been uncovering the principles that underlie effective teaching and learning. Instructors are finding that students learn more when asked to engage in critical thinking and problem solving. Changes in the workplace are highlighting the need for people to be able to communicate their ideas and work in teams. Innovative programs are demonstrating how to involve a broader cross section of young people in the sciences, especially women and minorities. Faculty members and students alike can resist unfamiliar approaches to teaching and learning.
Institutional inertia can stymie educational reforms.
Biology is advancing so quickly that just keeping up with the field can be a full-time job. Yet the rapid growth of biological knowledge is itself a powerful force for change. Biology is building bridges to chemistry, physics, mathematics, information science, and other disciplines, requiring that its students become well grounded throughout the sciences. Classroom and laboratory instruction are emphasizing the flexibility that students need to master rapidly advancing specialties and techniques. And as biology itself assumes an increasing prominence among the sciences, biologists are realizing that their responsibilities have changed.