New Professor Studies Role of Authentic Scientific Practices Within Science Education

University Relations

Stephen Burgin

Stephen Burgin, assistant professor of secondary science education, is looking forward to working with secondary science teacher candidates on the University of Arkansas campus.

He joined the College of Education and Health Professions faculty this fall in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.

Burgin received his doctorate in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis in science education from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, in 2012.

Before making Fayetteville his home, Burgin taught high school chemistry for six years and was also an assistant professor of science education at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, for the past three years.

Burgin studies authentic scientific practices and the outcomes exhibited by science learners who engage in those practices.

"As a science teacher I often wondered about the degree to which my lab activities reflected what working chemists actually do in their research," Burgin said. "This is why I focus on giving students a taste of real science."

Through his research, Burgin hopes to impact classroom practices of science teachers.

Outside of the classroom, Burgin is also active in the professional science education community. Burgin's research has been published in highly respected science education journals.