Dr. Eben Witherspoon
Doctoral Student
University of Pittsburgh

Dr. Witherspoon received this award for his dissertation titled “Localizing And Understanding Mechanisms Of Gender Differences Within Pathways Towards And Away From Science Degrees.”

This honor recognizes that Eben Witherspoon’s dissertation was judged by his NARST colleagues on the Outstanding Doctoral Research Award Selection Subcommittee to have the greatest merit and significance in the field of Science Education from among all dissertations nominated for the award this year. Dr. Eben Witherspoon completed his dissertation at University of Pittsburgh, August 21, 2019, under the direction of Dr. Christian D. Schunn of University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.

Since 1928, NARST has promoted research in science education and the communication of knowledge generated by research with the ultimate goal of helping all learners achieve science literacy. NARST achieves this goal by: 1) encouraging and supporting the application of diverse research methods and theoretical perspectives from multiple disciplines to the investigation of teaching and learning in science; 2) communicating science education research findings to researchers, practitioners, and policy makers; and, 3) cooperating with other educational and scientific societies to influence educational policies.