Behavioural Sciences
SOONER – Fundamental and Applied Research on Open Online Education in the Netherlands
The number of individuals engaging with open online learning is rapidly growing because this form of learning is a flexible means of education that can be adapted to a wide range of different circumstances. Through the SOONER (www.sooner.nu) project, Prof. Dr. Marco...
Seeds of STEM – Developing an Innovative Early Childhood Curriculum
Introducing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to younger generations has become a key priority for many researchers, educators, and policy makers. Dr Mia Dubosarsky of Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Massachusetts, Dr Florencia Anggoro...
Diversifying and Retaining STEM Leaders for the Future – Professor Kevin Ahern, Dr. Chelsea Wolk and Stephanie Ramos
The growing significance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) is not currently being matched by an appropriate level of variation in student demographics. Professor Kevin Ahern, Chelsea Wolk and Stephanie Ramos of Oregon State University are...
A Different Tangent to Teaching Trigonometry – Professor James L. McClelland, Stanford University
Learning trigonometry is a challenge for many high-school students, impeding their access to careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Dr James McClelland, a professor of cognitive science at Stanford University, California, has been working to...
The Shape of Rational Choices in Game Theory – Dr Tarun Sabarwal, University of Kansas
The choices we make in various situations have collective effects on the patterns of overall movement in conflict and cooperation. Dr Tarun Sabarwal at the University of Kansas is investigating the ways in which the overall pictures produced by these behaviours can be...
Addressing Inequality in Education – Dr Suzanna Rose, Florida International University
The underrepresentation of women and minority groups in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) related fields of employment and study is a widespread and serious issue in academia. Dr Suzanna Rose of Florida International University (FIU) is breaking...
Focusing on the Problem in STEM Education – Dr John K. Coleman, Langston University
The modern workforce needs to be more science educated than ever, yet the number of students in higher education enrolled in scientific subjects has not increased. Dr John Coleman at Langston University, Oklahoma, is developing novel methods for teaching scientific...
Inspiring Science Teachers in the Arizona Borderlands – Dr Etta Kralovec, University of Arizona, South
Recruiting and retaining high quality STEM educators in high schools can be a struggle, and even more so in under-served communities of the United States, such as the school districts that fall along the US/Mexico border. Professor Etta Kralovec at The University of...
Education and Health Disparity Across the US – Drs Mark D. Hayward & Jennifer Karas Montez
Adults living in certain US states suffer from more illnesses, more disability, and die sooner than residents of others. Dr Mark D. Hayward of the University of Texas at Austin and Dr Jennifer Karas Montez of Syracuse University are investigating these differences in...
Working Together to Achieve a Better Future for the Horticultural Industry – Dr Lynda K Deeks, Dr Chantelle N Jay and Dr Laura H Vickers
The production of fresh fruit and vegetables, and ornamental plants, is often taken for granted. While producing horticultural crops and plants offers many societal benefits, it can also have negative impacts on the environment and even on crop production itself....
Fostering Empathy in Engineering Education – Dr Nicola Sochacka, Dr Joachim Walther and Dr Shari Miller
Past research has found that engineering students graduate with less concern for the welfare of the public, and for the social implications of engineering design, than when they begin their studies. To address this issue, researchers from the University of Georgia...
Statistical Methods for Small Data – Dr Rens van de Schoot, Utrecht University
Researchers are heavily reliant on statistical techniques that are based on large sample sizes. Therefore, attempts to gain useful information from small samples can often lead to biased, or incorrect conclusions. Dr Rens van de Schoot at Utrecht University has shown...
Harnessing Mobile Technology to Improve Student Retention – Dr Lori H. Silverman, Colytix Inc
Dr Lori Silverman, an expert in education and student retention, is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Colytix. The company, founded in 2016, is developing innovative tools for higher education students to improve success and retention rates in class, while...
Making Researchers of STEM Undergraduates – Drs Kelly McDonald and Thomas Landerholm, California State University, Sacramento
The Sustainable Interdisciplinary Research to Inspire Undergraduate Success (SIRIUS) Project provides STEM undergraduates with practical research experience to better prepare and encourage them in their STEM pursuits. Dr Kelly McDonald and Dr Thomas Landerholm of...
Multi-Sensory Tools for Autism – Lois Jean Brady and Matthew Guggemos, iTherapy LLC
For children with autism, communication can be a challenge. Drawing from a wealth of clinical experience, speech pathologists Lois Brady and Matthew Guggemos at iTherapy, LLC are developing innovative, engaging multi-sensory communication tools with the aim of...
A Journey Through the Ocean: A Modern Approach to Science Education – Ocean Tracks
Research in the sciences is currently undergoing a massive transformation, as technological advancements shift big data into the forefront of investigative tools, and early education is looking for solutions to keep up. The Ocean Tracks program offers a structured...
The High Cost of Grade Retention – Professors Jan N. Hughes and Stephen G. West
Holding students back a year sets them up for dropping out of school. Young adults who drop out are at higher risk for social and health problems later in life. Professors Jan N. Hughes and Stephen G. West of Texas A&M University and Arizona State University,...
From Surviving to Thriving Boosting the Oral Feeding Performance of Premature Babies – CHANTAL LAU, PHD BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
The survival rates of premature babies are increasing all the time, but many struggle to develop proper oral feeding skills. This can result in longer hospital stays due to delayed development of important skills, such as swallowing and proper coordination of swallow...
Collaborating for a Cleaner Future – Dr Justyna Widera-Kalinowska, Adelphi University
The greatest challenges facing humanity over the next decades involve finding renewable sources of energy and finding ways to restore natural resources such as clean water that have been polluted by industrialisation. Dr Justyna Widera-Kalinowska of Adelphi University...
Challenging Students to Reach Further in Scientific Education – Dr Melanie Van Stry, Lane College
Associate Professor of Biology at Lane College, Dr Melanie Van Stry is undertaking educational and scientific research to support students in achieving their maximum academic potential. Her goals are to increase student retention and to improve learning and scientific...
BEST in CLASS: Improving Interactions Between Teachers and Students – Drs Maureen Conroy and Kevin Sutherland
Young students who exhibit problematic behaviours in school often fail to fully benefit from their educational experiences and can have adjustment problems later in life. Dr Maureen Conroy at the University of Florida and Dr Kevin Sutherland at Virginia Commonwealth...
S-COAM: Supporting Students in STEM Education – Indiana University of Pennsylvania
A report by the US National Science Foundation found that the State of Pennsylvania ranks below the national average on the proportion of mathematics, science, and engineering degrees conferred to students. The Scholarships-Creating Opportunities for Applying...
Supporting Children with Challenging Behaviours – Dr Andy Frey, University of Louisville
Children with disruptive behaviours require intensive support in school. Dr Andy Frey, professor at the University of Louisville, has been developing and evaluating interventions that could help these children to begin their school years positively and successfully....
Roadmap for Success: Increasing Diversity in the Biological Sciences – Dr Fern Tsien, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
Historically, there has been a disparity between the demographics found in the broader population and in academia. Women and many minority groups are underrepresented in science careers. Dr Fern Tsien at Louisiana State University is directing educational programs in...
Big Student Experiences in Nanotechnology – Drs Andrea Holmes and Christina Wilson, Doane University
Nanotechnology is poised to be one of the most critical technologies of the near future, yet exposure to nanotechnology techniques is limited for many college students. Dr. Andrea Holmes and Dr. Christina Wilson of Doane University in Crete, Nebraska, are partnering...
The Modern Blanket Toss, Expanding Horizons in Alaska – Dr John D Monahan, University of Alaska
The Modern Blanket Toss program offers students attending high school in Alaska, the chance to engage in a series of learning activities using drones – focusing on the wellbeing of local communities. Dr John Monahan of the University of Alaska Fairbanks describes...
Teaching a Computer to Sing – Jesse M. Heines and Daniel A. Walzer
As technology permeates more and more aspects of our daily lives, computer literacy and computer programming skills are more valuable than ever in the workplace. Professors Jesse Heines and Daniel Walzer of the University of Massachusetts Lowell are working at the...
In Pursuit of Wild Game Investigating People’s Perceptions of Hunting – Drs Shawn J. Riley and Göran Ericsson
Hunting is among the most ancient of human activities, and still plays a major role in obtaining food for many people worldwide. Dr Shawn Riley and Dr Göran Ericsson work to understand the volume and distribution of wild-harvested meat, how this meat moves through...
Transforming Big Data into Meaningful Insights Introducing Quantitative Ethnography – Professor David Williamson Shaffer, University of Wisconsin-Madison
In the information age, humans produce data at an extraordinary rate, offering social scientists an opportunity to study our behaviour in a manner unprecedented in human history. In his new book Quantitative Ethnography, learning scientist Professor David Williamson...
The Core of Corruption – Professor Bo Rothstein, University of Gothenburg
Corruption in governments affects all aspects of daily life. A society’s health, prosperity and even trust in others are all impacted by the integrity of administrations. Professor Bo Rothstein, co-founder of the Quality of Government Institute at the University of...