Elizabeth Cooper, postdoctoral associate in the Department of Biology at the University of Miami, will present “A Population Genomics Approach to the Study of Speciation in Aquilegia” on Monday, May 2 at 12:20 p.m. in the Cox Science Center, Room 166. Cooper’s research has involved the use of both traditional and next-generation sequencing methods to examine the genetic variation within and between two closely related species of flowering columbine, with the ultimate goal of finding the genes under selection for species differences. Cooper recently joined Associate Professor of Biology J. Albert Uy’s laboratory and plans to use a similar approach to find and study the genes involved in reproductive isolation among the Solomon Island bird populations that seem to be in the process of becoming a new species. For more information about this event, please contact Julia Dallman at [email protected] or William Browne at [email protected].

The Instructional Advancement Center will host a faculty luncheon on teaching effectiveness on Monday, May 2, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at the University Center, Flamingo Ballroom A&B. The luncheon is being held for all faculty on the theme of effective teaching as part of UM’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP). Guest speaker Charles Dziuban will present “Technology Enhanced Learning: Opportunities and Challenges.”

Dziuban is director of the Research Initiative for Teaching Effectiveness at the University of Central Florida, where he has taught research design and statistics since 1970. A recipient of UCF’s Pegasus Professor Award for extraordinary research, teaching, and service, Dziuban directs the impact evaluation of UCF’s learning initiative and examines student and faculty outcomes at the university.

The luncheon is open to all UM faculty. To reserve a space, please RSVP by April 27 by visiting http://www.iacmiami.org, and click on “Upcoming Events.”

Information, communication, and technology literacy is the focus of the University of Miami’s QEP (Quality Enhancement Plan), which is part of the SACS accreditation process. For more information, visit www.miami.edu/qep or contact Devika Milner in the Office of the Provost at 305-284-6858 or [email protected].