Session Format
Presentation Session (45 minutes)
Location
Room 2901
Abstract for the conference program
The University of North Georgia (UNG), Dahlonega, suffers from high attrition of STEM majors and low STEM graduation rates. In response to this challenge, a transdisciplinary (TD) team of UNG STEM faculty – from biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics - has designed and developed hands-on laboratory experiments that employ empirical, interpretive, critical, and transdisciplinary research methodologies. The TD laboratory curriculum exposes undergraduate STEM students to cutting-edge techniques and new scientific frontiers, which will foster creativity and passion about scientific research, help undergraduates develop skills in analytical thinking and experimental design, and improve their technological fluency. In turn, this will improve persistence by stimulating student interest and participation in STEM. We will present examples of the transdisciplinary experiments that our students are engaging in and provide interactive activities to expose an interdisciplinary audience to the substantive scientific questions and real-world observations of the TD lab at UNG.
Proposal Track
Research Project
Start Date
3-4-2016 9:30 AM
End Date
3-4-2016 10:15 AM
Recommended Citation
Formica, Sarah; Dansby-Sparks, Royce; Smith, Margaret; and Velatini, Gregg, "Cultivating a Community of STEM Polymaths at UNG" (2016). Interdisciplinary STEM Teaching & Learning Conference (2012-2019). 11.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/stem/2016/2016/11
Cultivating a Community of STEM Polymaths at UNG
Room 2901
The University of North Georgia (UNG), Dahlonega, suffers from high attrition of STEM majors and low STEM graduation rates. In response to this challenge, a transdisciplinary (TD) team of UNG STEM faculty – from biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics - has designed and developed hands-on laboratory experiments that employ empirical, interpretive, critical, and transdisciplinary research methodologies. The TD laboratory curriculum exposes undergraduate STEM students to cutting-edge techniques and new scientific frontiers, which will foster creativity and passion about scientific research, help undergraduates develop skills in analytical thinking and experimental design, and improve their technological fluency. In turn, this will improve persistence by stimulating student interest and participation in STEM. We will present examples of the transdisciplinary experiments that our students are engaging in and provide interactive activities to expose an interdisciplinary audience to the substantive scientific questions and real-world observations of the TD lab at UNG.
