Athens, Ga. – A research institute for two dozen selected doctoral students in science education will be co-directed by Julie A. Luft, the University of Georgia Athletic Association Professor in Mathematics and Science Education, in Washington, D.C., next summer. Domestic and international students will apply to attend this institute.
The 2013 Sandra K. Abell Institute for Doctoral Students is a five-day program that provides a select group of science education doctoral students with opportunities to discuss their current research, work in small groups on issues related to their research, write research proposals for an international conference and hear established scholars discuss their work.
During the institute, students will hone their research skills, as well as build a network of scholars that will support their intellectual pursuits. This network will also guide the selected students throughout their professional lives as science education researchers.
The focus of this year’s institute will be, “Connecting Research to Policy and Practice.” Luft will be joined by Angie Calabrese Barton of Michigan State University as co-director of the institute. The department of mathematics and science education at UGA, the CREATE for STEM Institute at MSU, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the National Association for Research in Science Teaching are co-hosts of the event.
“Hosting the Sandra K. Abell Institute for Doctoral Students is a great honor for the University of Georgia’s Department of Mathematics and Science Education,” said Luft. “It speaks to the program’s commitment to graduate student education, and UGA’s longstanding presence in the science education community.
NARST sponsored the first institute in 2009, which was directed by Sandra K. Abell. Based upon the success of the initial program, NARST committed to sponsor future institutes on a biennial basis. The institute was ultimately named after Abell, in honor of her work with graduate students in NARST.
Founded in 1908, the UGA College of Education offers 14 undergraduate majors and more than 34 graduate programs leading to careers as educators, counselors, psychologists, administrators, researchers, and educational and health-related specialists.
