bader, winter 2003 (page 11)

Since January 2000, I have also served as Director of the Center for Science and Mathematics Education which is a clearinghouse for the large array of pre-college programs at CWRU. The Center administers exemplary outreach programs such as the Science Olymiad and the JASON Project, participates in pre-college programs with faculty in all schools at the university, and serves as a liason between the university and the Cleveland Municipal School District.

Past and Current ABLE Activities or Service

I have been a member of ABLE since 1993 and presented three major workshops prior to serving a term as the Major Workshop Chair from 1999-2002. My participation in ABLE proved to be extremely valuable recently when we reconfigured the core courses for the undergraduate biology major and intergrated a significant number of ABLE laboratories into the new curriculum.

Personal Statement

I am anxious to continue my active participation with ABLE since the need for such an organization is greater now than ever. As we accumulate solid data on science education at all levels and begin to think more and more about how we teach laboratory science, it is clear that ABLE can continue to be a leader in the implementation of high quality laboratory experiences. Through the major- and mini-workshops, ABLE needs to conintue to promote inquiry-based laboratories and bringing innovations in research into the undergraduate teaching laboratory.

The biggest challenge facing ABLE as an organization is not a new one, namely generating a sufficient number of excellent major workshop proposals to ensure breadth and depth of coverage for the annual conference. As Major Workshop Chair for the last three years, I have seen first hand how critical this challenge is. I believe that ABLE leadership is thinking creatively about this problem and I would like the opportunity to work with them in developing some of their ideas.

A contributing factor to the lack of major workshop proposals is the level of membership. I think it is importnt to stabilize the membership and continue to actively recruit new members. One way to do this would be to have local members represent ABLE at various conferences across the country.

As ABLE continues to evolve (I'm allowed to use the word in Ohio now), there are new challenges in other areas of the organziation as well. As a Member-at-Large it would be exciting to rotate through the various ABLE committees, addressing these issues in novel ways and getting the chance to work with a lot of great people within the organization.


Winter 2003 Page 11

Jim Bader Candidate for the Position of Member-at-Large
Present Academic Position I am a graduate of the University of Notre Dame (B.S.) and Case Western Reserve University (M.S.). I have been a member of the Department of Biology at CWRU since 1983, first as a graduate student, then as the Manager of Graduate and Undergraduate Biology Teaching Laboratories, and currently as a Lecturer in Biology. I have taught a variety of lecture and laboratory courses, including introductory biology, microbiology, and comparative vertebrate anatomy. Currently I am teaching course in aquatic biology and ecology.
Since January 2000, I have also served as Director of the Center for Science and Mathematics Education which is a clearinghouse for the large array of pre-college programs at CWRU. The Center administers exemplary outreach programs such as the Science Olymiad and the JASON Project, participates in pre-college programs with faculty in all schools at the university, and serves as a liason between the university and the Cleveland Municipal School District. Past and Current ABLE Activities or Service I have been a member of ABLE since 1993 and presented three major workshops prior to serving a term as the Major Workshop Chair from 1999-2002. My participation in ABLE proved to be extremely valuable recently when we reconfigured the core courses for the undergraduate biology major and intergrated a significant number of ABLE laboratories into the new curriculum. Personal Statement I am anxious to continue my active participation with ABLE since the need for such an organization is greater now than ever. As we accumulate solid data on science education at all levels and begin to think more and more about how we teach laboratory science, it is clear that ABLE can continue to be a leader in the implementation of high quality laboratory experiences. Through the major- and mini-workshops, ABLE needs to conintue to promote inquiry-based laboratories and bringing innovations in research into the undergraduate teaching laboratory. The biggest challenge facing ABLE as an organization is not a new one, namely generating a sufficient number of excellent major workshop proposals to ensure breadth and depth of coverage for the annual conference. As Major Workshop Chair for the last three years, I have seen first hand how critical this challenge is. I believe that ABLE leadership is thinking creatively about this problem and I would like the opportunity to work with them in developing some of their ideas. A contributing factor to the lack of major workshop proposals is the level of membership. I think it is importnt to stabilize the membership and continue to actively recruit new members. One way to do this would be to have local members represent ABLE at various conferences across the country. As ABLE continues to evolve (I'm allowed to use the word in Ohio now), there are new challenges in other areas of the organziation as well. As a Member-at-Large it would be exciting to rotate through the various ABLE committees, addressing these issues in novel ways and getting the chance to work with a lot of great people within the organization.

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