Prof. Zoubeida R. Dagher is the LSEP recipient in 2015. Prof. Dagher and her research team used the LSEP grant to support teacher understanding of scientific practices in Beirut, Lebanon. The team will report their research result in a IC sponsored session at the 2016 NARST international conference.

Report from Domonique Bulls

The SAARMSTE Research School was hosted at the Heia Safari Ranch outside of Johannesburg, South Africa this past June. When I was accepted to receive the NARST 2015 Ph.D school scholarship, I instantly became excited to share my research ideas, gain valuable knowledge, and meet great people. I can honestly say that my expectations were greatly exceeded, and this experience will be memorable for a lifetime. I would like to thank NARST and the International Committee for making this experience possible. I am gratefully appreciative of the efforts by the International Committee, and I encourage you to continue offering such great experiences for graduate students.

From the scenery, to the animals, to the research sessions, to the diversity of attendees, the SAARMSTE Research School was an eye opening experience. Coming into the research school I did not know what to expect, and I was a little apprehensive about traveling across the world not knowing anyone. This feeling was immediately alleviated during the first session of the research school. I was able to meet all of the attendees while we shared our research ideas. It was very interesting to see that even though most of the participants were doing research in Africa, a lot of their topics were very similar to my research goals. It was refreshing to be around science education scholars who were experiencing some of the same difficulties as it relates to our research problems, and being able to help each other navigate the problems. I appreciate the feedback from the other graduate students and mentors from SAARMSTE.

During the SAARMSTE Research School I was working on my dissertation proposal. Marissa Rollnick (the director of the Marang Center in South Africa) was my assigned mentor. Dr. Rollnick was of great assistance in helping to focus my proposal, and she offered great resources and connections with science education scholars in South Africa. The days at the research school were filled with phenomenal sessions that were tailored to graduate students. Sessions such as academic writing, research methodology, data analysis, postgraduate supervision, and technical support were just a few of the many offerings at the SAARMSTE Research School. What made this conference unique is that the there was allotted “writing” time in the schedule. During this time I was able to incorporate the new resources and knowledge gained during the conference sessions into my writing. The writing time allowed me to edit and receive feedback on my dissertation proposal. One of the highlights from my four-day experience was the research poster presentation session.

The poster presentations were very similar to other conference poster sessions but more intimate, allowing for the discussion of research, future goals, and most importantly networking. It is during this time I met Ntsiki, a graduate student from Wits University. Ntsiki was drawn to my poster because of my work with culturally relevant science among African American students. Her work also consists of culturally relevant methods for African students in science and math. Ntsiki and I shared resources, personal research goals, and stories. It was amazing to see that even though she is thousands of miles away we encounter some of the same issues, and our students are very similar. Even after the SAARMSTE Research School, I am still in contact with Ntsiki and plan to collaborate on future projects with her and the Wits University. I also developed a great relationship with the other NARST scholarship recipients.

Within science education sometimes we become so consumed by our own research that we do not take advantage of the cross-cultural connections within our field. There is so much diversity within the NARST community, and I am thankful for my experience at the SAARMSTE Research School. I have made the personal commitment to continuously expand my research lens to other cultures and to collaborate with science educators from around the world. Although we may be located in different regions of the world our mission is the same: To improve science teaching and learning through research.

Additional Announcements From Members

International Conference of the Korean Association for Science Education

Venue : Kyungpook National University, 80 Daehakro, Bukgu, Daegu, 41566, South Korea

Conference Dates:  Jan 28 – 30, 2016

The theme for this year’s conference is, “The Future of Science Education: International Perspectives.”

For more information regarding the conference sessions, speakers, and registration, visit the official conference site, http://www.koreascience.org/english/2015_conference.asp

European Science Education Research Association (ESERA) Summer School

We invite applications from students and staff who wish to attend the next ESERA summer school, which will be held in České Budějovice, Czech Republic, 22 – 26 August 2016.

Are you a PhD student in science education? Don’t forget to send your proposal to the ESERA Summer School 2016! Are you researcher in the science education? Come to the ESERA Summer School 2016 as a coach! Call for applications is now open!

Come to the beautiful town of Ceske Budejovice in the Czech Republic in summer time and meet other PhD students and coaches from different countries. The historical city of Ceske Budejovice, founded in 1265, is located on the confluence of the Vltava and Malse rivers in South Bohemia close to the borders with Austria. You can come by train, by bus or by plane (from the Prague International Airport (approx. 150 km, connection every hour).  For more information regarding applications, visit this link where you can download more detailed directions.  Notes on applying can be downloaded at this link.  Applications can be submitted through the website https://esera2016.jcu.cz.

The deadline for applications is January 31st, 2016.

We look forward to receiving your applications.

Iva Stuchlíková
Lukáš Rokos
Jan Petr

Pedagogická fakulta, Jihočeská univerzita v Českých Budějovicích
(Faculty of Education, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice)