Original research in biology, which is thought to spark student interest and bolster majors, makes its way to the associate-degree level. Through a grant from the National Science Foundation, students of biology in community colleges will have the chance to do research on open-ended, real-world questions with no predetermined answers--and experience all the rewards and frustrations that come with that work. Many four-year institutions have come to see that undergraduates should be given the chance to do complex, hands-on projects that go beyond the cookbook-style experiments found in traditional introductory science labs. Such open-ended research projects are widely thought to confer educational benefits because they pique students' curiosity, expose them to more-authentic ways of engaging in scientific inquiry, and allow them to work closely with faculty members. The National Research Council of the National Academies, in its 2003 report on changing the teaching of biology, recommended that all students be encouraged to conduct independent research "as early as is practical in their education."