Research

Faculty Research

The MU Science Education Faculty are nationally and internationally recognized experts in their field. In addition to teaching in the undergraduate and graduate science education programs, they conduct science education research, engage in outreach to K-16 science classrooms in collaboration with scientists and school-based colleagues, and serve professional organizations in various capacities.

Dr. Sandra K. Abell, Ph.D., University of Iowa (1988), Curators' Professor of Science Education and Director, MU Science Education Center. Abell's research involves understanding the process of becoming teacher of science, from preservice preparation throughout the teaching career. Her research methodology is naturalistic and often carried out collaboratively with school and university based colleagues. Professor Abell is a Past President of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching.

Phone: 573-884-9033
Email: abells@missouri.edu
Web: http://web.missouri.edu/~abells/

Dr. Lloyd H. Barrow, Ph.D., University of Iowa (1973), Professor of Science Education. Professor Barrow's research focuses on professional development of K-12 science teachers. He specializes in survey research and most frequently uses quantitative methodologies.

Phone: 573-882-7457
Email: barrowl@missouri.edu.

Dr. Patricia J. Friedrichsen, Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University (2002). Associate Professor of Science Education, jointly appointed in the Division of Biological Sciences. Professor Friedrichsen, a qualitative researcher, studies science teacher learning and development. She is particularly interested in teacher development at the pre-service and induction levels. Dr. Friedrichsen is also involved in biology education, focusing on biology teaching in introductory courses for non-science majors.

Phone: 573-882-6828
Email: friedrichsenp@missouri.edu
Web: http://web.missouri.edu/~friedrichsenp/

Dr. Deborah L. Hanuscin, Ph.D., Indiana University (2004), Assistant Professor of Science Education and Physics. Dr. Hanuscin's research interests focus on the teaching and learning of the nature of science (NOS). In particular, she is interested in the ways in which NOS instruction affects preservice teachers' understandings of NOS within science content courses and across their teacher education. Additionally, she is interested in how teachers' understandings of NOS influence their teaching and their students' understandings of NOS. As a qualitative researcher, her methodology is primarily naturalistic and focuses on the influence of socio-cultural aspects of classrooms on the learning and teaching of NOS.

Phone: 573-884-2527
Email: hanuscind@missouri.edu
Web: http://www.missouri.edu/~hanuscind/

Dr. Marcelle A Siegel, Ph.D., University of California at Berkeley (1999). Assistant Professor of Science Education, jointly appointed in the Department of Biochemistry. Dr. Siegel investigates how learners use scientific evidence to form decisions. She is interested in instructional decisions and ways to support secondary science teachers and university faculty in their work. Professor Siegel specializes in classroom assessment, science-language integration, and design of instructional materials.

Phone: 573-882-8695
Email: siegelm@missouri.edu
Web: http://www.missouri.edu/~siegelm

Dr. Mark J. Volkmann, Ph.D., Purdue University (1992), Associate Professor of Science Education. Professor Volkmann researches professional identity of science teacher. His research focuses on the participant's own descriptions of current and past experiences. Methods include extensive interviewing, field work, and analysis to build a thematic interpretation of the phenomenon becoming a teacher at critical transitions.

Phone: 573-884-9738
Email: volkmannmj@missouri.edu
Web: http://web.missouri.edu/~volkmannmj/

Dr. Anna Waldron, As Director of the Office of Science Outreach, my mission is to engage university students, scientists, K-12 teachers and students, and the public in meaningful dialogue to improve science teaching and learning through university outreach. Science outreach has many definitions, and my goal is to increase understanding of science through creation of effective programs that facilitate collaboration among university scientists, schools, and other community organizations. Effective outreach requires planning partnerships that directly benefit all those involved. We work to involve people in program design, development, implementation and evaluation to achieve the most effective outreach program outcomes possible. In addition to actively creating programs, my research interests include how young women become engaged in science and technology and how the public comes to a meaningful understanding of science, technology, engineering and math. .

Phone: 573-882-9435
Email: WaldronA@missouri.edu