14:	Developing a 21st century curriculum in plant biology online in the former Sovient Union.

Authors:	Black, Clanton, C.(A)Pyankov, Vladimir, I.(B)Sung, Shi-Jean, S.(C)
Affiliations:	(A): Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA (B): Department of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Urals State University, Ekateringburg, Russia (C): USDA-Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Tree Root Biology, Athens, GA
Presenter:	Black, Clanton C., ccblack@bchiris.bmb.uga.edu

In Russia and former Soviet countries (FSC) we are developing a teaching curriculum in plant biology to encompass the rapid pace of changes in our plant knowledge base. We will put the curriculum online and aim to update it regularly. The main objectives are i) to give young plant scientists in FSC an indepth current view of the expanding numbers of opportunities for them to add new ideas, information and knowledge to our body of plant knowledge; and ii) to help keep active teachers challenged and abreast of these streams of developing knowledge for use in their instructional work. We are using teaching examples such as the total number of known and putative genes required to build a complete plant; the use of transgenic plants to correct local to global environmental problems; or the building of bridges between traditional plant uses and more quality and expanded uses of plants in the 21st century. We are currently engaged in these educational efforts and we invite any interested persons to add, join, or comment on this work. (This work is supported by a Curriculum Development Exchange grant and a UGA International Instructional grant to CCB and VIP)