Biological Sciences (61) Bioinformatics is central to biology in the 21st century. The use of computer based analytical tools on electronically stored and distributed data is fundamentally changing life science research and its application to problems in medicine, agriculture, conservation, and forensics. In light of this "information revolution" undergraduate biology curricula must be redesigned to prepare the next generation of informed citizens and prepare those who will pursue careers in the life sciences. The BEDROCK initiative (Bioinformatics Education Dissemination: Reaching Out, Connecting and Knitting- together) is enhancing, expanding, and empowering a national community of bioinformatics educators. The project goals include: 1) Identify and support faculty who can take a leadership role in bioinformatics education; 2) Highlight and distribute innovative approaches to incorporating bioinformatics data and techniques throughout undergraduate biology education; and, 3) Establish mechanisms for the broad dissemination of bioinformatics resource materials and innovative teaching models. To achieve these goals we are holding a series of faculty development workshops around the country; recruiting and supporting a group of innovative faculty to implement and disseminate bioinformatics education materials; publishing resources for bioinformatics education and building a networked collaboratory environment for developing and sharing bioinformatics educational approaches. This project builds on the established pedagogical philosophy and academic community of the BioQUEST Curriculum Consortium. Specifically, BEDROCK extends our work in bioinformatics education over the last four years during which we have established a community of collaborators representing the diverse resources required to mount a national dissemination effort.
