Dr. Valarie L. Akerson
Professor
Indiana University

Dr. Valarie L. Akerson was selected to receive the NARST 2021 Distinguished Contributions to Science Education through Research Award (DCRA). This honor recognizes Dr. Valarie L. Akerson’s professional accomplishments as the most significant among other researchers nominated for the DCRA this year.

Professor Akerson has made lasting contributions to the field of science education through her research, teaching, and leadership of two major science education organizations. Professor Akerson has pioneered research and practice that explore the nature of science and scientific inquiry with students and teachers in elementary school and teacher education contexts, disseminating her scholarship through a wide spectrum of research and practitioner journals and books. A dedicated mentor to numerous junior scholars, she advances the field as she meaningfully serves and substantially impacts multiple communities.