NCSE launches new fellowship to tackle science misconceptions

Science teachers face challenges as never before. A new fellowship from NCSE is aimed at discovering new ways to help them thrive under these difficult circumstances. The Sound Science Fellowship, which welcomes its inaugural cohort of seven higher-education academics, advances the teaching of evolution, climate change, and accurate scientific education. The fellowship will provide these scholars with unique opportunities to engage in deep exploration and collaboration, building upon NCSE’s mission to ensure accurate and evidence-based science education in K-12 schools nationwide.

The Sound Science Fellowship is designed to address the ongoing challenges faced by teachers as they navigate issues such as scientific misinformation, evolving educational standards, and societal resistance to critical scientific topics.

“We are thrilled to welcome this exceptional group of scholars into the Sound Science Fellowship,” said NCSE Executive Director Amanda L. Townley. “These fellows are passionate about inspiring the next generation of scientifically literate citizens, and through this fellowship, they will have opportunities to inform, support, and expand our understanding and approaches to address challenges to the teaching and learning of topics such as evolution and climate science.”

The 2024 Sound Science Fellows were selected based on their dedication to science education and science teacher education, their proven ability to engage critically in research and teaching spaces, and their commitment to upholding the highest standards of scientific accuracy. As part of the fellowship, each fellow will work closely with experts in the fields of evolutionary biology or climate science as well as pedagogy to develop our understanding of best practices in education and emerging challenges while contributing to ongoing efforts to improve science education nationwide.

The seven selected fellows for the 2024 Sound Science Fellowship are:

• Michael Dean Bechtel, Associate Professor of Science Education at Wartburg College.
• Ian C. Binns, Associate Professor of Elementary Science Education at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte.
• Debbie French, Associate Professor of Science Education and Associate Director of the Graduate Education Program at Wake Forest University.
• Ramesh Laungani, Associate Professor of Environmental Science at Marist College.
• Lisa Martin-Hansen, Professor of Science Education at California State University, Long Beach.
• Molly Selba, Assistant Professor of Anatomy, University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
• Jessica Stephenson Reaves, Assistant Professor of Science Education, Kennesaw State University.

“These educators are at the forefront of ensuring that future generations are equipped to understand and engage with the most important scientific issues of our time,” Townley said.

Each fellow will serve a term of two years, with new fellows added yearly to expand collaboration. During their tenure, fellows will work on individual and collaborative projects, attend seminars with scientists and education leaders, and contribute to NCSE’s broader mission to promote and defend high-quality science education across the nation.