Guidelines for Scientist Partners

Scientist partners host pairs of TIES teachers (usually one science and one non-science teacher) in their laboratories or clinics for 4 days (Monday-Thursday) during the July summer teacher institute, for 2 hours per day (1-3pm).

TIES teachers come to your labs and clinics to gain an authentic experience of basic and clinical research. However, they are not expected to learn wet lab techniques, but to ask questions and observe, working more as anthropologists than as research assistants.  In TIES, teachers study the cultural context of research as much as the scientific content or research methods, and use this to inform classroom activities that encompass more than just traditional “science”. For an in-depth discussion of the rationale behind the anthropological approach, and the teacher-researcher model please see our background to the TIES approach.

We hope that during the course of the 4 days in your lab or clinic, teachers will see:

1. Background briefing on your research topic (chalk talk is much better than Powerpoint; original research papers and reviews are probably too detailed)
2. Data acquisition
3. Data analysis and figure preparation
4. Lab meeting or journal club

While we realize that it may not always be possible to adhere to this schedule, we very much hope that all teachers will have a fundamentally similar experience to aid them in their discussions and comparisons. 

We also hope that while in the lab the teachers will address issues such as the use of an animal model and/or human subject research, and the associated IACUC and IRB processes, lab personnel structure and hierarchy and career paths in medicine and research.

Please also let the people in your lab know that you will be hosting teachers between 1 and 3pm every afternoon for a week (except Friday).  This helps the teachers to feel welcome in the lab!  Also, please appoint someone in the lab to work with the teachers if you are going to be absent.

Dates for 2008:
Week 1 (OCTRI/Marquam Hill researchers): July 7-10
Week 2 (ONPRC/West Campus researchers): July 14-17

For more details, or to become a partner, please contact Bill Cameron, cameronw@ohsu.edu.