Distance Learning-To enhance collegial interactions and exchange of ideas within the program, we are introducing a distance learning element for two components of the program.
a. The first is based on an existing two-credit weekly research seminar (BI 585/586, Seminar: “Progress in Physiology, Endocrinology and Reproduction”) in which graduate students present recent research progress. These are one-hour PowerPoint presentations with a question and answer period. PowerPoint slides will be uploaded in advance to the open SBRP web site, and can be downloaded for viewing by participants. Any participant unable to attend in person can follow the slides as they listen to the audio portion through phone lines or over the Internet. Questions may be asked in real time. Thus, while the seminar is normally be held on the Charles River Campus of Boston University, it will be available at the School of Public Health and at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Group research seminars from these locations may also be accessed from each of the other units in the same way by sharing of PowerPoint presentations for local viewing. This approach follows that used by NIEHS/EPA in their ‘Clue-in’ web-based seminars.
b. In addition to the 2-credit research seminar above, we hold frequent program-wide Advanced Research Seminars hosted by different components of the program and attended by all PIs and students and any other interested parties. These seminars, which are integrated into the Department of Biology “ Biomolecular Seminar Series” bring together PIs and students to hear state-of-the-art lectures on Superfund-related subjects. The information technology used above for the student research seminars would be used to allow participation of program members at distant sites. The PowerPoint presentations will also be uploaded to the server and archived for subsequent viewing. Thus, both of these distance learning components will be based in ongoing programs and will be available both in real time as well as in an archive. (See Seminars)
