News Article

FSW Biology Professors Attend CUR-REIL Biology Conference

Aug 10, 2016

AUGUST 10, 2016 – FORT MYERS, FLA. – Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) Microbiology Professor Dr. Robert Furler and Biology Adjunct Professor Dr. Jean Labriola-Scholz recently attended the Council on Undergraduate Research’s (CUR) Research Experiences in Introductory Laboratory (REIL) Biology Workshop in Tampa, Fla. Their participation was funded by a scholarship from the National Science Foundation.

The CUR-REIL Biology Workshop and Conference provides researchers and educators the opportunity to share ideas and practices and develop new ways to introduce undergraduate research into their biology classes.

Dr. Furler and Dr. Labriola-Scholz both conduct HIV research and collaborate to bring undergraduate HIV research opportunities to FSW students. They presented the poster, "Teaching Intro Bio by Investigating the HIV/AIDS Epidemic,” to conference attendees to share their methods.

“Students in two-year and state colleges may not have the same experience with scientific research as students in universities,” Dr. Furler said. “By incorporating undergraduate research into our programs at FSW, we are giving these students the exposure they might not have otherwise.”

“The conference helped provide us a framework to implement an introductory biology lecture and lab option into our classes,” Dr. Labriola-Scholz said. “Now we have a better notion of how to extend several aspects of "real" research in HIV/AIDS to introductory biology students. 

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Florida SouthWestern State College is Southwest Florida’s largest and one of the most affordable institutions of higher education. Annually serving nearly 22,000 students globally, FSW offers a variety of nationally-ranked, career-focused academic programs with two- and four-year degrees, and professional certifications. Students are also active in clubs and programs catered to their interests. FSW debuted its intercollegiate athletics program in January 2016. Visit www.FSW.edu for more information.

Last Updated: August 10, 2016