Science education students present research at national conference

Friday, May 3, 2019

Oklahoma State University students, faculty and alumni recently attended the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) conference in St. Louis, Missouri, where they attended educational sessions and presented research. The conference offers participants the latest in science content, teaching strategy and research to enhance and expand professional growth.

“Students coming through the secondary science education program at OSU are provided with learning opportunities, such as attending national conferences, that prepare them to meet the professional challenges of teaching diverse learners so all can achieve science literacy,” said Dr. Julie Angle, associate professor of science education in the OSU College of Education, Health and Aviation.

Preservice science teachers Nichole Jones and Heidi McIntyre and science education graduate student Tanner Bryan presented their research at the annual poster competition. Jones took first place with her research titled “Light-Harvesting Antenna Size Affects Photosynthetic Charge Separation Efficiency in Synechocystis.” She has conducted four semesters of research alongside Dr. Rob Burnap, professor of microbiology in the OSU College of Arts and Sciences. McIntyre presented her research, “Body Size of Native Bees and Foraging Distances within Canola Fields. She has conducted two semesters of research in the lab with Dr. Kristen Baum, professor of integrative biology in the OSU College of Arts and Sciences, and David Berman, graduate student in the department of integrative biology . Bryan and Dr. Angle presented their research, “Science Research Experience for Teachers (RET): A Year-Long Collaborative Model.” Also attending the conference was OSUTeach student Emilee Phillips, master’s student Kathleen Stuck and integrative biology faculty member Dr. Donald French.

“Preparing the next generation of science teachers is met with the challenge of equipping them with the knowledge and skills to facilitate future K-12 students to become good consumers and stewards of science,” said Angle. “Our preservice science teachers conduct research, develop a middle school or high school science lesson that transitions their research into classroom practice, write a research manuscript that focuses on the research they conduct and present their research at the university level and beyond. Thanks to the dedication of our science research faculty, OSU is unique in that it prepares future science teachers to excel in both the science community and the science education community.”

Media Contact: Rachel Potts | 405-744-8320 | rachel.potts@okstate.edu