Dear NARST Members,
The last several weeks have undoubtedly been challenging to many US-based members of the science education research community. With the many drastic changes in the US National Science Foundation, the Department of Education, and many other federal agencies, many colleagues have lost hard-earned support vital for careers and livelihoods as faculty, postdocs, graduate and undergraduate students, and staff in colleges and universities, and educators and administrators in other institutions and organizations. Feelings of frustration, anger, sadness, and concern across the science (and STEM in general) education research community have been prevalent these days as these changes will have far-reaching impacts on science education research and innovation both in the United States and globally.
In light of these events, we want to reassure NARST members that NARST stands firm in its mission to help all learners achieve science literacy, considering access to high quality science education as a fundamental human right (see our position statement on Equity in Science Education)
Moreover, we have established the “Protect Science Education Research Committee” as a special committee that will focus on the growing challenges facing science education research, including funding cuts, policy changes, staffing of science-related organizations, and public misinformation about scientific inquiry. The committee will develop strategies to support robust science education research and the evidence-based practices that inform science education with the following two primary objectives:
- Strategic Recommendations: Provide actionable recommendations for NARST members, institutions, and funding agencies to ensure the longevity, quality, and impact of science education research.
- Rapid Response: Monitor emerging challenges to science education research and provide timely responses to protect its integrity.
The NARST leadership will work with the committee to develop strategies and actions to help strengthen our community while staying informed about the events that continue to unfold and upholding our values of inclusive and equitable science education.
We also want to acknowledge that these changes have a profound impact on the well-being of many NARST members. Witnessing and experiencing the persistent attempts to suppress particular domains of science education scholarship cause undue mental and physical stress.
Although these times are indeed challenging, we encourage you to ensure that you are taking care of yourselves. Do whatever you can to find moments of joy in your day-to-day living, for example, going for a walk in nature (urban nature is also nature), doing something creative, or spending time with loved ones. As bell hooks notes, “Hope is essential to any political struggle for radical change when the overall social climate promotes disillusionment and despair.”
We encourage you to find moments of hope and joy so that together we are able to continue doing the work that we are passionate about and stand firmly for the values that guide our work.
Sincerely,
The Presidential Team
Jennifer D. Adams, President
Maria Varelas, President-Elect
Jerome Shaw, Immediate Past President
