Biology professor to join high-level research education group

When Dr. Miriam Segura-Totten was asked to apply to the Scientists Engaged in Education Research (SEER) Center, she was flattered.

"It means you are recognized for doing serious and rigorous research," said the professor of biology at the University of North Georgia (UNG).

Then when she was named as a core faculty member of SEER at the University of Georgia (UGA), she was honored.

"It is such a compliment to be asked to join," said Segura-Totten, who is the Harry B. Forester Eminent Scholars Chair at UNG. "UGA is a powerhouse nationally in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education research."

According to the SEER website, the center's mission is to facilitate cutting-edge research in STEM education through multidisciplinary interactions and research collaborations among a community of scientists from different colleges, departments and medical partnerships. Research areas include basic and applied research grounded within STEM disciplines and informed by evidence-based theory in educational and social sciences.

Segura-Totten said that evidence-based teaching is important to her.

"Evidence-based teaching is when you teach based on what has been published to work best," she said. "For me, it's the best way to teach because it benefits students the most."