OLYMPIA A state requirement that high school students pass a biology exam in order to graduate would be suspended under an agreement announced Thursday by a bipartisan group of lawmakers. The deal, if approved by the full House and Senate, clears the way for seniors who met every requirement except passing the test to receive their diploma. Also under the accord, the state will continue requiring students to achieve a minimum score on standardized tests in English language arts and mathematics but provide a new path for those who fail one or both of those tests to still graduate. It would be an expedited appeal process culminating in the superintendent of public instruction deciding if a student demonstrated enough knowledge in those subject areas to be exempted from the testing requirement. Hundreds of students around the state may immediately benefit from this accord. At the start of May, 5,875 students had not passed one or more of the required tests, including 3,302 still needing to pass the biology test, according to the state superintendents office. Specifics will be amended into House Bill 2224 which the House Education Committee approved Monday. Votes in the House and Senate wont occur until lawmakers … Continue reading →

June 23, 2017 Plant diseases pose a serious threat to global food security, especially in developing countries, where millions of people depend on consuming what they harvest. In sub-Saharan Africa, one plant disease in particular maize lethal necrosis is ravaging one of the regions preferred crops for food, feed and income. But understanding its biology in order to manage the disease is difficult because the disease arises from two viruses interacting which is where mathematics comes into play. A team of researchers at the National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS), based at UT, has used mathematical modeling to better understand the dynamics of the disease and how to manage it. Their research results, published this month in a study in the journal Phytopathology, could not only help improve our understanding of maize lethal necrosis but could also help inform the management and control of other destructive plant diseases caused by combinations of pathogens. Continue reading on the NIMBioS website. More: NIMBioS: Mathematical Biology Tackles Destructive Plant Virus - Tennessee Today … Continue reading →

CONCORD- Lori Treiber said she doesnt teach for the awards, but she racked them up this year. Also voted the Teacher of the Year for Central Cabarrus High School, Treiber was recently notified that she won North Carolinas 2017 Outstanding Biology Teacher Award. Each year the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) selects a teacher from each state to win this award. Its been a whirlwind, Treiber said. I was surprised. A colleague of mine had nominated me back in 2004 when I was teaching in Charlotte- Meck, but I didnt win then so I was surprised this time and very happy. But I dont teach for awards, I teach for my students. This time around, Treiber was nominated by another colleague. She was required to submit four testimony letters from the principal, a parent, a student and a colleague. Then she had to video herself doing a lesson and provide the awards committee her philosophy on teaching. When all of that was said and done, Treiber came out as the winner this year. She will be honored during the upcoming North Carolina Teachers Association (NCSTA) conference in Greensboro in October and the NABT conference held in St. Louis, Missouri … Continue reading →