Tajma Cameron

Tajma Cameron is an Assistant Professor of Science Education and Research Faculty at the National Center for the Elimination of Educational Disparities at Morgan State University. Her teaching and scholarship center on preparing educators to understand and teach science as a dynamic, evidence-based human endeavor grounded in inquiry, reflection, and the nature of science (NOS). Cameron’s research explores how culturally sustaining and creative instructional approaches can foster belonging, agency, ownership, and empowerment among historically marginalized learners in STEM, with a particular focus on Black girls, including twice-exceptional learners. Using culturally sustaining qualitative methodologies, her work examines the intersections of race, gender, and ability in science learning environments and seeks to advance inclusive and affirming approaches to STEM education. As a science educator and teacher educator, Cameron is particularly interested in supporting pre-service and in-service teachers in developing robust understandings of NOS so they can confidently engage students with complex and sometimes controversial topics. Her work emphasizes the importance of understanding science as an ongoing, evidence-driven process and of helping learners distinguish observation from inference, understand the role of creativity in scientific knowledge-building, and recognize the evolving nature of scientific understanding. Cameron is a National Science Foundation (NSF) CADRE alumna and a Jhumki Basu Scholar through the National Association for Research in Science Teaching. Through her scholarship, teaching, and service, she works to build bridges among research, teacher preparation, and K–12 science education while advancing more equitable and empowering STEM learning experiences.