When it comes to subjects in school, biology tends to get a bad rap. Many people find it to be too difficult, hard to understand or not relatable.Ěý
But, according to Melanie Peffer, PhD, biology is all around us, offering daily lessons on how we live next to other animals and plants. Peffer, an assistant teaching professor with the health professions residential academic program and research scientist at the Institute of Cognitive Science, argues that when we present science through the lens of daily experience, it becomes relatable and accessible.ĚýĚý
“When you look at biology through a new and different lens, you realize biology is all around you and is impossible to ignore,” Peffer said. “When you start to see it every day, that’s when you gain the confidence to engage with it.”Ěý
Most people take their basic science courses in high school or freshman year of college and forget about everything they learn. Oftentimes, science comes across as too clinical, dryĚýand filled with memorizing information that will hardly matter outside the classroom. More often than not, this teaching style quickly turns people away from science.
Even Peffer, who has taught introduction to cellular and molecular biology courses, admits the topic can be difficult to understand.
“I had two classes where I had to memorize the process of cellular respiration. I couldn’t tell you the step-by-step process now but I can tell you the bigger picture and why it is important—which, at the end of the day, is more important to our daily lives,” said Peffer.
Instead, she offers a different approach that’s all about making biology more approachable. In her book, , Peffer highlights how we interact with biology daily: from why listening to or playing music feels good to how antioxidant-rich foods such as blueberries protect our DNA and can help prevent cancer.Ěý
Peffer says it’s important to make science accessible at a young age. Children are innately curious and have no problem asking questions about everything they find remotely peculiar.Ěý
To help get people to realize that biology is all around us at a young age, Peffer stresses the importance of teachers building relationships with students and showing them how science, specifically biology, matters in their daily lives.Ěý
“I want my lecture to help individuals feel more confident and curious about biology and realize it’s not as scary as people may think it is,” she said. “I want to break down those misconceptions. At the end of the day, we are all born scientists.”
Sharing new perspectives with the communityĚý
On Feb.Ěý12, Peffer will open CU on the Weekend'sĚýspring lecture series. Her lecture, “Where have you experienced biology today?” will help identify connections between science and everyday life, as well as how bridges can be built between biology and other disciplines such as the arts.Ěý
Through personal experiences and real-world examples, Peffer will explore how the power of viewing science as meaningful to our lives ultimately fires our imagination, sparks curiosity and encourages learning.Ěý
“This series helps to show the local community that everyone in Colorado can benefit from the research being done on campus,” said David Meens, director of the Office for Outreach and Engagement, the office that sponsors the series.
CU on the Weekend is a continuation of nontraditional programming that has been done by what is now called the since 1912.Ěý
The fall and spring series began in 2008 and consists of three to four lectures designed to give faculty members the opportunity to share the diversity of research that is happening on campus with the general public.Ěý
“We have built up a sizable audience that is very loyal to our series and the program. It ends up being a consistent and reliable way to get research out to a local community that CU is proud of,” Meens said.
The range of topics is wide: This year’s speakers will highlight the history of camping from recreation to homelessness to exploring the depths of the ancient Mediterranean Sea. Lectures are presented in such a way that someone who knows nothing about the subject will understand and appreciate the content.Ěý
Learn more about the series and different lectures being offered this semester.
