Outreach Update

The Biology Project:
An interactive online resource for learning biology

Global and personal health issues, environmental safeguards, and genetic testing are some of the many complex issues facing society today that are biology-based. The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics helps to educate a global audience about such issues by sponsoring The Biology Project -- http://www.biology.arizona.edu. The Biology Project is an online interactive learning tool containing problem sets, tutorials and activities. The Biology Project was initially developed as a hands-on tool for UA students in the introductory biology course, Biology 181. Since the web site is well designed and is accessible worldwide at no cost, students and teachers from other universities, community colleges, high schools, and the general public are using The Biology Project. In the year 2000, The Biology Project had more than 1.5 million user sessions. Portions of the The Biology Project are also translated into Spanish http://www.biologia.arizona.edu/ and Portuguese http://www.projeto-biologico.arizona.edu/ .

Drs. Richard Hallick and William Grimes, both professors within the Department, initiated The Biology Project in 1996. Since its inception, The Biology Project has received numerous awards, including a nomination for the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences' 1999 Webby Award in the Science category. The Webby Awards are known as the "Oscars of the Web". The Biology Project site has also been named the site of choice for biology in Yahoo! Internet Life Magazine's Special Anniversary Issue. Additional prestigious academic links come from Access Excellence, the Department of Education's Gateway to Educational Materials, the BBC Education Web Guide, and HMS Beagle.

The site provides a feedback form. Some of the best descriptions about The Biology Project come from the users themselves:

"I have been examining your "Biology Project" website and I do have to say it is awesome. I teach AP biology in high school, and I believe I will be having my students using your website a great deal. It provides me with an innovative research and review tool while incorporating computer and internet skills into my lessons. There is a large push for this in public education. They just aren't providing the funding for it. Once again, Thanks!" - AP Biology Teacher

"Thanks so much for a very useful and easy to understand site! you guys helped me so much on my test this week!" -High School Student

"I would like to congratulate the development team of the Biology Project for creating one of the most intellectually stimulating and graphically satisfying learning tools that I have ever come across. Future scientists and medical researchers will thank the University of Arizona for their vision and foresight to conceive and develop this public resource." -Parent

"I just wanted to write to you and tell you how much I love your site. I am a student at the University of Maryland, College Park, and I am taking Zoology 211. I did a web search looking for glycolysis because I have an exam soon, and not only did I find the topic, but I found almost every topic that will be covered in my exam. Also, your project allowed tutoring, which helped me with things that I was unsure of. I also referred your project to my class because I found it so helpful. Thank You." -Undergraduate Student

Biological Sciences West
P.O. Box 210088 ·Tucson, AZ 85721-0088
Tel: (520) 621-9185 FAX (520) 621-9288
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics
The University of Arizona
Updated June 1, 2004

http://www.biochem.arizona.edu/
All contents copyright ©2001-2004. All rights reserved.
cherylr@u.arizona.edu