Biological Collections in Ecology and Evolution Network (BCEENET) connects undergraduate educators and natural history collections experts to support the development and implementation of Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) using digitized natural history collections data. CUREs can increase participation in undergraduate research, especially for minority and first-generation college students, leading to increased student engagement, retention, and long-term success. BCEENET surveyed educators and biological collections experts to identify the resources and training opportunities that would be most valuable in supporting natural history collections CUREs.
Results/Conclusions
Preliminary survey results identified several resources and training opportunities that undergraduate educators and museum professionals considered very valuable in the development and implementation of natural history collections CUREs. Opportunities to meet potential research and teaching collaborators, workshops using natural history collections data portals and datasets, and workshops on the development and implementation of CUREs were all identified as very valuable by more than 50% of survey respondents. Additionally, access to student tools and resources for use in natural history collections CUREs were identified as very valuable by over 60% of survey respondents. Lack of time and funding were identified as highly significant obstacles by a majority of the survey respondents. BCEENET will use the results of this survey to shape future network activities and maximize our support of ecology and evolutionary biology CUREs using digitized natural history collections data.