Howard University News May 28, 2014 Biology Department Awarded $1.4 Million to Enhance Curriculum The Howard University Department of Biology received a $1.4 million grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) to expand curriculum offerings and improve the scientific content of undergraduate courses. "This award meets the demand for training underrepresented minorities in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) disciplines, and it is important for the education of African-American undergraduates in science (fields)," said Winston Anderson, Ph.D., Howard professor of Biology and principal investigator of the grant. The HHMI research grant enables universities to develop and implement strategies that will support undergraduate science education by integrating tools and approaches that engage students in science-related fields. The grant will be disbursed to the department over five years, beginning this summer, giving biology students the opportunity to utilize modern scientific techniques, Anderson said. "Our students will be fortunate to gain research experience that will enhance their skills to pursue advanced research," Anderson said. The HHMI advances biomedical research and science education in the United States and has awarded more than $935 million in grants to colleges and universities since 1988. These grants have enabled research universities to engage undergraduates in authentic research and create compelling courses and curricula. The improved courses will provide an infrastructure for the Department of Biology and will benefit from partnerships with program consultants and experts at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Lehigh University, Anderson said. Howard is a leader in producing competitive graduates in STEM fields. In 2009, the National Science Foundation ranked Howard first in the U.S. as the producer of the highest number of African-American bachelor's degree recipients who earned science and engineering doctoral degrees. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/2014meeting-form.html for the October 26-28, 2014 HBCU Library Alliance 6th Membership Meeting in Atlanta GA!