Science Literacy For All

A new Science Literacy Program was launched last fall, with the aim of educating nonscience majors about the fundamentals of science while also benefiting advanced science students, who will have the opportunity to co-teach classes alongside faculty mentors.

The program was funded by a $1.5 million grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, as part of the institute's commitment to help universities strengthen science education. The UO proposal was among 50 chosen from 165 applications.

“The unique aspect of our HHMI program is the engagement of undergraduate science majors in teaching courses for nonscience majors,” said Michael Raymer, professor of physics, who was instrumental in the program’s design.

“Our advanced science undergraduates have the outlook on science that we want to model for nonscience students,” he added. “Being close in age to the students taking the 100-level courses, they can illustrate the excitement that comes with scientific discovery. And by involving the science majors in co-teaching courses, the program will help inspire a new generation of science teachers and public communicators.”

The new courses will span multiple departments. For example, faculty members from physics and geological sciences are collaborating to create and teach a new course called Scientific Revolutions—Major Advances That Altered Our Understanding of the World.

Students taking typical science courses listen to lectures, take notes, read textbooks and occasionally get to ask questions, said biologist Judith Eisen, who is director of the program. “A lot of it—especially the lecture part—is sort of a passive learning experience. But the UO’s Science Literacy Program will train faculty members in interactive teaching strategies that are known to be effective.”

— Lisa Raleigh