title: Exploring the nature of science through courage and purpose: a case study of Nikolai Vavilov and plant biodiversity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Historical biographies facilitate teaching the 'nature of science'. This case study focuses on how Nikolai Vavilov's unrelenting sense of purpose, courage, and charismatic personality was maintained during violent revolutionary change in Russia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The rediscovery of Gregor Mendel's laws of inheritance provided Vavilov with a scientific foundation for crop improvement, this foundation was later bolstered by Vavilov's personal drive to conserve plant biodiversity. As he advanced theories and pragmatic approaches for genetic improvement and conservation of plants, political leaders in Russian came to reject Mendel's principles and eventually Vavilov's work.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This rejection occurred because Joseph Stalin was desperate for a quick remedy to the famine and suffering from forced collective agriculture. Vavilov's work continued, modernizing Russian crop research while inspiring other scientists to save seeds stored in the world's first gene bank. Three themes illustrating the nature of science help examine Vavilov's life: explaining natural phenomena, uncompromising human endeavor, and revising scientific knowledge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The case study concludes with four questions to stimulate student inquiry and self-guided research. They also deepen student understanding of Vavilov's personal sacrifices to ensure use and conservation of plant biodiversity.
authors: Montgomery County Public Schools, Rockville, MD USA ; Graduate School USA, Washington DC, USA ; Audubon Naturalist Society, Chevy Chase, MD USA.
authors: Joel I
authors: JI
authors: Cohen
authors: Department of Genetic Resources of Oat, Barley, Rye, N. I. Vavilov Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR), 44, Bolshaya Morskaya Str., St-Petersburg, Russia 190000.
authors: Igor G
authors: IG
authors: Loskutov