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COMMUNITY:
Project Descriptions

Understanding the Tree of Life

January 1, 2008 - December 31, 2010 | Professional Development, Conferences, and Networks, Exhibitions
Understanding the Tree of Life was a 36-month-long conference project that brought together evolutionary biologists, museum educators (including natural history museums, science centers, zoos, aquaria and botanical gardens), and STEM-education/cognitive psychology researchers with the goal of improving both the research agenda and practice of the use of phylogenetic "tree of life" visual representations in museum exhibits on evolution. The project was multi-faceted, incorporating pilot research studies, a planning meeting and a major conference, and evaluation of the conference and impact on professionals. Participants represented several museums and university-based researchers across the country and one in Israel. Four research groups, twenty planning meeting participants, sixty-two conference attendees from thirty institutions, and twelve advisors were involved.

Funders

NSF
Funding Program: ISE/AISL
Award Number: 0715287
Funding Amount: 250000

TEAM MEMBERS

  • MacDonald web grain cropped
    Principal Investigator
    University of Kansas
  • David Uttal
    Co-Principal Investigator
    Northwestern University
  •   Judy Diamond
    Co-Principal Investigator
    University of Nebraska State Museum
  • Discipline: Education and learning science | Life science | Social science and psychology
    Audience: Museum/ISE Professionals | Scientists | Evaluators
    Environment Type: Professional Development, Conferences, and Networks | Conferences | Exhibitions

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