UA to Host National Conference on Science Education June 20-21

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — “Research Based Undergraduate Science Teaching: Investigating Reform in Classrooms,” a national conference on the best practices and reforms in teaching undergraduate science and their impact on student learning outcomes, will be held June 20-21 at The University of Alabama’s Bryant Conference Center.

The conference is sponsored by the National Study of Education in Undergraduate Science, or NSEUS, a project funded by the National Science Foundation and The University of Alabama Office of Research on Teaching in the Disciplines.

Highlighted in the conference will be the results of the five year NSEUS national study investigating undergraduate science classrooms.

“The goal of the National Study of Education in Undergraduate Science project was to examine the impact of reformed undergraduate entry-level science courses that differ from traditional courses,” said  Dr. Dennis Sunal, UA professor of science education and a conference co-chair. “Site visits at 20 colleges and universities as well as over 90 K-12 schools were conducted by a team of investigators from the University of Alabama, Kansas State University and San Diego State University.”

Presentations and panels include researchers from universities and colleges in more than 25 states and participation in discussion and work groups by all conference attendees, representing more than 40 institutions.

Keynote speakers include Alan McCormack, immediate past president, National Science Teachers Association, and George DeBoer, American Association for the Advancement of Science, deputy director for Project 2061.

For a complete list of speakers and a schedule, go to the NSEUS web site at http://nseus.org/.

For more information, contact Sunal at dwsunal@bama.ua.edu