Leaders: John R. Jungck (President), Lorna Holtman (Vice-President), Susan Adams (Secretary-Treasurer)
Countries involved: 28
Field of Research: Education
Objectives:
The IUBS Commission for Biological Education was established in the early seventies as the Union's educational arm. Its major role is to formulate, initiate and facilitate effective methods of improving education in the biological sciences and allied fields, including the applications and implications of biological studies. The Commission is also committed to assist in the international dissemination and exchange of information about biological education and it acts in a consultative capacity when appropriate.
The IUBS Commission for Biological Education holds international conferences every four years. Past programs have been in Paris, France in 2000; in Rio de Janiero, Brazil in 2004; and Dijon, France in 2008. The next IUBS BioEd will be held in China in 2012. Additional BioEd events have been held in 2007 in Washington, DC in conjunction with the IUBS General Assembly; in 2009 in Christchurch, New Zealand as part of the Darwin 200 symposia series; and in 2009 in Capetown, South Africa in conjunction with the IUBS General Assembly.
The Conference goals for the BioEd 2008 were to:
1. explore the linkages among biological sciences, the environment, sustainable development and society;
2. promote bioliteracy and education reforms that integrate biology, sustainability, health, wellbeing, ethics and citizenship;
3. provide recommendations for improving education worldwide in support of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainability, adopted for 2005-2015.
The IUBS Commission for Biological Education is rebuilding its website which will be available at. We will http://iubscbe.org/post abstracts of papers presented in past meetings held between 2000 and 2009; some fullpapers; and pdf's of some publications developed between 1975 and 2000. Links to biological educational resources available from 44 member countries will be built in a database driven format so that official members can add new and edit out-of-date material.
