Great project, and engaging video.  

    I was astonished that the swallows would be feeding on fire ants-- I presume when the ants are swarming. I assume that some of the student work is contirbuting to a longitudinal database of population structure & numbers? 

I wonder if there are enterprising high school teachers in the area that (with their students) might participate, in future?

Thank you for submitting this video. I agree with Brian that it is both very engaging and informational. It also makes clear that undergraduate research experiences need not involve great costs, travel, or other expenses. Every location has a natural resource that probably can be utilized to a greater extent for such purposes. You are also to be commended for making this a cross-disciplinary effort between biology and chemistry at your institutions. Given the potential importance of these birds that your research has already uncovered (e.g., the reduction of fire ant impact on the environment because of predation by these swallows), it also might be useful in the future to engage other disciplines such as economics and social sciences. I recently coauthored a paper, "Integrating Undergraduate Research and Civic Engagement," that might be helpful in this regard.

I think it could be helpful to other viewers, especially those who are thinking about developing similar kinds of undergraduate research experiences at both two- or four-year institutions if you could say more about the following questions:

1. Please say more about the interactions between the chemical and biological aspects of this project. For example, if there is a lecture section to a course associated with this project, do both faculty members co-teach it so they can interact in class? Do students get to choose whether they will focus on the biological or chemical aspects, or is that selection based upon how they enroll (e.g., are there separate biology and chemistry courses devoted to this research)?

2. You indicate in the video that you have proof that this approach is effective. Could you please provide additional information about the nature of that evidence? Were these assessments designed as an integrated component of the effort vs. being added after the program was underway?

3. A major concern about undergraduate research experiences is their sustainability. For this program it appears that two faculty members from Moreno Valley College are involved. What kinds of efforts are needed to insure that the program continues if one or both of the current faculty members can no longer participate for some reason or if the project loses its external funding? To what extent is there tangible support for the effort (financial and other) from the two departments involved? From senior administration?

Hello All! My name is Ivory Toldson, professor at Howard University, president of Quality Education for Minorities, and one of the facilitators for the STEM for All Video Showcase. The conversation is off to a great start and I will be chiming in with my own input this afternoon and over the next few days. I'm excited about what we can achieve for the next generation of STEM learners!

This is a great model, thanks so much for sharing it. I have tip-toed into community-engaged, research-based learning (examining how people's perceptions of pollution and contamination influence their environmental practices), but my classes have always been one-offs. After seeing your example, I'm excited to try something long term like this.

Nice example of using the local environment for undergraduate research. Because it is local I would imagine the students have more interest. Your abstract mentions that Flying with Swallows was designed for "a number of STEM courses." Which courses have this component? Does the project span the courses so that the students can see as they are working the information or outcomes impacting their own piece of the project? Do the students present their own work at the Cliff Swallow Day? Thank you!

Informative video, Professor Werner-Fraczek, as a retired MVC faculty, I've watched your project evolve into a fascinating study of our beloved swallows.  What a stimulating project for your students as well as the MVC community, thank you for sharing!

You are amazing, Joanna, and a credit to Moreno Valley College.   Your students are fortunate to have you as their instructor and mentor.  This project will have positive ramifications beyond what can be imagined both for your students and the swallows.  So proud to know you and be supportive.

You are amazing, Joanna, and a credit to Moreno Valley College.   Your students are fortunate to have you as their instructor and mentor.  This project will have positive ramifications beyond what can be imagined both for your students and the swallows.  So proud to know you and be supportive.

Your project aimed to incite scientific curiosity and creativity and I believe you have done just that! This is a great opportunity for students to engage with the scientific process and enhance other research skills with conference participation and publication opportunities. In a comment above, you shared that you are in the process of developing collaboration with local high schools and middle schools. What ideas do you have for that collaboration? How will these programs differ from the current program at the undergraduate level?

This is very intriguing. The students are so fortunate to have such an involved and knowledgeable instructor. Proud of all of the students who are making new paths for themselves and representing Moreno Valley College as "the beacon on the hill" that it is, providing new opportunities to all. May great things continue to come of this!

This is very intriguing. The students are so fortunate to have such an involved and knowledgeable instructor. Proud of all of the students who are making new paths for themselves and representing Moreno Valley College as "the beacon on the hill" that it is, providing new opportunities to all. May great things continue to come of this!

Thank you Ivory for your kind comment.

Our goal is to learn as much about the swallows as possible, the dynamic of their population in relation to industrial developments in our area.  Students from high schools and middle schools will collect information that will be put into our data base GIS maps of Moreno Valley.  The guest lectures will be organized for them as well as their visits to the campus to see the products of the project.  I would also like to organize the summer program where the selected students could be involved in the research in projects like insect DNA barcoding. We believe that early exposure to the FWS project would encourage students to enroll at MVC.

The ongoing research with the MVC students depends on the level of course they take.  The major courses are doing independent research where students develop the research proposal, reach out to the scientific community and read scientific literature.  The best proposals are becoming the topic of studies in the next academic year so the FWS project is student driven.

Once again, thank you for your questions.

very impressive work as Dr. Joanna said, "act locally, think globally"

thank you

Dear Joanna, My special congratulations on the great video illustrating an exciting and prestigious NSF-funded project. It shows how much can be accomplished in the STEM-based undergraduate research without costly labs and equipment.  Involving undergraduate students in intriguing research is the key to their future success as scientists and researchers. I am very impressed with the students' accomplishments - and your strong meritorious and organizational leadership.

Thank you very much for your very nice comment Dr. Supernak.

Thank you for sharing your video! The work you are doing with our students in STEM-based undergraduate research is exciting and I hope we may find ways to work together through the iMAKE Innovation Center once it's completed. 

Thank you for sharing your video! The work you are doing with our students in STEM-based undergraduate research is exciting and I hope we may find ways to work together through the iMAKE Innovation Center once it's completed. 

What an inspirational video.  Having a multi-year project with a few key partners makes undergraduate research projects seem achievable.  Thank you for sharing your knowledge, skill and high expectations for your students.

Thank you very much Kathe

Thank you for sharing this with us Dr. Joanna. I love the work you are doing for your students and want you to know that you are appreciated. 

I personally would enjoy seeing more media about this project. Maybe a followup video discussing some of the scientific details of the study and more info on the collaboration between biology and chemistry. Great work overall!

Thank you for sharing this with us Dr. Joanna. I love the work you are doing for your students and want you to know that you are appreciated. 

I personally would enjoy seeing more media about this project. Maybe a followup video discussing some of the scientific details of the study and more info on the collaboration between biology and chemistry. Great work overall!

Thank you Casey for taking the time to share your comment. I agree with you, the project should be more visible on social media.  We do have the Swallow website: http://www.mvc.edu/academicprograms/swallows/, but having more means for sharing would be very helpful.  I will make sure the stronger dissemination takes place. Thank you.

This is lovely!! Wow.

Excellent video and what a fantastic idea. I'd love to see this spread to other areas of the country.  I am based at the University of Chicago where we have several internationally renowned research groups studying birds.  I will share this video with them, as many of the graduate students volunteer at local schools in the Chicago Public School system and that may provide an opportunity to spread some aspects of your concept. Despite our city location we are near the lake and in a migratory corridor so birds abound!  Thanks for sharing your exciting work.

Thank you very much Victoria.  I am happy to hear that your school might propagate the idea of studying local species.

Thank you for spreading the video.  Your support is very much appreciated.

This program really shaped my interest in research as an undergraduate student! Thank you, Dr. Joanna, for showing us the importance of being global citizens through research. I am excited to see the research program grow.

Thank you for all that you are doing for the students at Moreno Valley College! This is such an educational and inspirational project! I look forward to its continued success.

Thank you for all that you are doing for the students at Moreno Valley College! This is such an educational and inspirational project! I look forward to its continued success.

We're lucky to have you here teaching our students.