Teaching and research: congruence or division
Posted by Melissa on May 5, 2010
I just read Diane Auer Jones’ opinion piece in Nature this week and couldn’t be more disappointed at her suggestion that we leave research to select research universities. It’s a discouraging dismissal of the value of research opportunities provided by primarily undergraduate institutions, as well as the teacher-scholar model for faculty. I’ve been reading David Lopatto’s “Science in Solution: The Impact of Undergraduate Research on Student Learning” published by the Research Corporation, and I suggest anyone who reads Jones’ piece take the time to read “Science in Solution” to gain a better perspective on the value of undergraduate research at all types of institutions.
Ian Durham said
Wow. That is very disappointing – and a bit behind the times. Even the Feds are recognizing the value of research at smaller institutions. They are insisting the smaller schools be included on new EPSCoR grants, for instance.
arjendu said
Oh, I don’t know, as long as Research Universities leave all the teaching to us (and tell their students as much), I could see a point to doing that.