News from SCI-Southwest
Democracy, Civic Engagement and Student Learning
On Friday, February 1, the SENCER Center of Innovation Southwest (SCI-SW) and the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Texas Woman’s University (TWU) hosted the Fourth Annual SCI-SW SENCER Regional Symposium in the Ann Stuart Science Complex. The theme of this year’s symposium aimed to link student learning, civic engagement and democracy. It brought speakers and experts in different disciplines from around the US and TWU to discuss together our roles in helping students develop a sense of civic virtue so they can build a thriving democracy for themselves and future generations. You can read the full report of the program here. http://sencer.net/southwest/
Values‐based training for successful academic leadership at your institution
In October 2018, the organization founded by SENCER leaders Amy Shachter and Karen Oates, Success 4 Higher Education (S4HE), teamed with the National Center for Science and Civic Engagement to present the first Values‐Based Academic Leadership Institute hosted at Broward College. Thirty‐eight campus leaders from institutions across the United States, as well as one international campus, spent two days developing conceptual and practical foundations for their work as leaders. A report on this meeting was published in Dean and Provost (Vol 20, Issue 5) January 2019 Read it here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/dap.30539
Read More for Upcoming Meetings, New Resources, and Call for Submissions!
Regional Meeting: SCI-Midwest Spring 2019 Meeting
Host: Roosevelt University, Schaumberg Campus
Date: April 5, 2019
Title: Innovation and Collaboration in STEM Education
For program information and registration go to: https://ncsce.wildapricot.org/event-3246494
Regional Meeting: SCI-Mid-Atlantic Spring 2019 Meeting
The SENCER Mid-Atlantic Regional Meeting is being hosted by the New School with the exciting theme of STEM, Humanities and Social Justice. Proposals for posters, workshops, presentations are all welcome, particularly those from non-STEM disciplines and we shall be highlighting some of the exciting work being done at the New School. Deadline for submissions is Feb 8th.Please save the date – April 5th!! Please RSVP here
Hold the Date: 2019 SENCER Summer Institute
Host: Case Western Reserve University
Date: August 1-4, 2019
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Registration will be available soon!
NEW Resources for Teaching and Learning:
Humanities for All—a Project of the National Humanities Alliance
Humanities for All showcases over 1,500 examples of publicly engaged humanities work at colleges and universities across the United States, many of which address the scientific and civic challenges that SENCER courses address, including the environment, public health, and economic and racial disparities.
For scholars and educators, Humanities for All offers models and potential partners for publicly engaged work in their communities. Check out their list of over 1500 projects at colleges, universities, and community institutions nationwide. https://humanitiesforall.org/
The New Education (Hardcover)
How to Revolutionize the University to Prepare Students for a World In Flux by Cathy N. Davidson
In The New Education, Cathy N. Davidson argues that we need a revolution in higher learning if we want our students to succeed in our age of precarious work and technological disruption. In the book she profiles iconoclastic educators who are remaking their classrooms by emphasizing creativity, collaboration, and adaptability over expertise in a single, often abstract discipline. The New Education was awarded the 2019 Ness Book Award from the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U). Read the review from Inside Higher Education:
Call For Submissions!
The mission of Science Education and Civic Engagement: An International Journal is to explore constructive connections between science education and civic engagement that will enhance both experiences for our students. In the 21st century, mathematical and scientific reasoning is an essential element for full participation in a democratic society. Contributions to this journal will focus on using unsolved, complex civic issues as a framework to develop students’ understanding of the role of scientific knowledge in personal and public decision making, along with examining how such knowledge is embedded in a broader social and political context. Since many pressing issues are not constrained by national borders, we encourage perspectives that are international or global in scope. In addition to examining what students learn, we will also explore how this learning takes place and how it can be evaluated, documented, and strengthened.
The Journal solicits submissions for publication as articles in several different categories. Detailed descriptions of the various types of articles published as well as detailed submission guidelines can be found at http://new.seceij.net/submission-guidelines/. All submissions go through “single blind” peer review.
The journal accepts submissions on a rolling basis. However, manuscripts that authors hope to see published in the Summer 2019 issue should be submitted by April 15 to ensure full consideration.
SECEIJ is also interested in expanding its pool of reviewers. If you have experience in the area of informal/formal STEM education and/or civic engagement and would be interested in serving as a reviewer, please contact Dr. Matt Fisher, co-editor in chief, at matt.fisher@stvincent.edu