The Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics Ambassadors
(Left to right, standing: Justin Wong, Heather Dawson, Andy Lemieux, Zak Campbell, Daniel Martinez,
Theresa Cleary, Tally Largent, Tony Kanavage; kneeling: Jennifer Corrigan, Leo Bartik, Kevin Lau,
Susan Greenhut; seated: Carrie McAllister, Tiffany Miller, Christine Salibay, Wendy Ingram)

The BMB Ambassadors, a group of undergraduate students who participate in departmental outreach, mentoring, and recruitment, is among the newest members of the Undergraduate Affiliate Network of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. The Network has four major goals:

• To assist in the development of strong undergraduate programs in biochemistry and molecular biology.
• To provide undergraduate programs with access to seminar speakers and regional programs and symposia.
• To foster interactions between undergraduate educational and outreach programs both regionally and nationally.
• To recognize outstanding educational activities in the arena of biochemistry and molecular biology by individuals and by programs.

Promoting Undergraduate Interest in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
reprinted from ASBMB Today, August 2003, p. 4

“Success comes from having a community,” says Ellis Bell, Professor of Chemistry at the University of Richmond and co-chair of the ASBMB Education and Professional Development Committee (EPD).

Dr. Bell and the EPD are now creating such a community for undergraduates interested in biochemistry and molecular biology, called the Undergraduate Affiliate Network (UAN). Under the leadership of Marion O’Leary, Dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at California State University, Sacramento, the EPD has recently taken a more active role within ASBMB. The committee has focused on developing a new undergraduate curriculum for biochemistry and molecular biology and providing career resources for new graduates as well as established professionals who are interested in changing fields. The new hub of EPD activity is community building, especially for undergraduate programs. The coming Undergraduate Affiliate Network is a centerpiece of this new program.

A major concern of those who teach biochemistry and molecular biology is the nationwide decline in the number of students expressing interest in the biological sciences as researchers. The UAN was designed in response to this shortage. The members of the EPD hope that by increasing the quality of undergraduate curricula and directly connecting students with careers in biochemistry and molecular biology, interest in the field will increase.

“We are trying to form a community. If you connect students who may be interested in science with scientists, they’ll be more likely to go into and stay in science,” says Dr. Bell.

Scheduled to start accepting applications to become an affiliate at the start of the 2003-2004 school year, the UAN aims to form scientific and educational communities across the country to help schools develop the best possible undergraduate curricula and to provide more research and learning opportunities for students by pooling their resources and working together. The EPD divides the country into six geographical regions, each of which will have a regional director and a website.

“Within each region, the idea is to foster connections, not only between undergraduate institutions, but with outreach activities as well, and to create a community where people of all ages are talking to each other about biochemistry,” says Dr. Bell.

To further conversation about biochemistry, the UAN will serve as a way to inform others about local research symposia, seminars and awards open to students. The program will also provide opportunities for students to participate in outreach programs that teach biology and chemistry to K-12 students and educate the general population. Dr. Bell stresses the importance of making the UAN reach everyone, not just undergraduate students.

“Scientists can do better to reach out to the general population and explain what they are doing,” he says. “These are the people who do the voting and influence legislators.” Dr. Bell hopes that the UAN will work with the EPD to help increase scientific literacy among laypeople.

One of the most valuable resources available to students joining an affiliate of the UAN is the opportunity to present research at the ASBMB annual meeting. ASBMB will provide travel funds to one student at each affiliated institution to attend the meeting and to compete in the Annual Undergraduate Research Achievement Poster Competition. In addition, each affiliate can nominate a student for one of 10 Seniors in Science Excellence Awards.

Students will interact with the ASBMB and science through the UAN, not only by participating in research internships and outreach programs, but by providing the means by which a school joins the network. Each school in the UAN must have at least five undergraduate members of ASBMB, as well as one faculty advisor who is a member of the Society. The student affiliate members will enjoy all the benefits of ASBMB professional members as well as those that come from the UAN.