Visiting Professor Leads Teacher Workshop

On July 1 PRISM sponsored a workshop by Dr. Simon, visiting from the Center for Biology Teacher Education, Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Austria, presented studies about student and adult (mis-)conceptions concerning viruses, viral diseases, and vaccination. In this workshop Dr. Simon presented methods for measuring misconceptions, possible strategies to improve students’ knowledge and attitudes about viruses, and the importance of knowledge  about viruses to health. The workshop also included the introduction of various simulators/simulation games related to viruses and population biology.

During his visit to the College of Science and Mathematics, Dr. Simon also participated in laboratory training sessions, facilitated by Dr. Sandra Adams, Professor Emeritus, Department of Biology. The laboratory sessions consisted of training in bacteriophage (bacterial virus) isolation and purification from soil samples.