2007 ISMAA Annual Meeting
Conference Workshop
Bringing Life (Sciences) to Calculus Courses
Timothy D. Comar
Department of
Mathematics,
Part I: Friday, March 30, 2007, 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Part II: Saturday, March 31, 2007, 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Reports including BIO 2010: Transforming Undergraduate Education for Future Research Biologists (National Research Council, 2003) and Math and BIO 2010 (L. A. Steen, ed., MAA, 2005) emphasize that aspects of biological research are becoming more quantitative and that there is a need to introduce future life science researchers to a greater array of mathematical and computational techniques and more sophisticated mathematical reasoning. Biocalculus (calculus for the life sciences) courses can provide an effective way to introduce lower level undergraduates majoring in the life sciences to significant applications of mathematics to biology. This workshop is designed to help mathematicians at both four-year and two-year institutions design and implement biocalculus courses and integrate biological applications into existing calculus courses. The format of the workshop is a combination of lectures and hands-on computer laboratory activities. Participants will be introduced to different biocalculus course structures and the issues related to implementing such courses. Participants will also learn ways to develop collaborations with biologists to best integrate mathematics and biology into their existing calculus courses. No previous experience with biology or biomathematics is required.
This year, the workshop will consist of two sessions. The first session will be held on the morning of Friday, March 30, 2007 prior the beginning of the ISMAA Annual Meeting. The second session will be held immediately following the conclusion of the ISMAA Annual Meeting during the afternoon of Saturday, March 31, 2007. It is recommended that participants participate in both sessions, but it will possible to register for either session separately. Registration for this workshop is open to all ISMAA Annual Meeting Attendees and is part of the ISMAA Project NExT Program.
Questions about this workshop should be directed to Tim Comar at tcomar@ben.edu or 630-829-6555.