Not 1 but 2: CATALYST’s Bryan named as 2024 NARST Fellow and to Grand Universe Space Science Institute board
A Purdue University faculty member jointly appointed to the Colleges of Education and Science has been selected for two honors: she was named a 2024 Fellow of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST) and appointed to the board of the new Grand Universe Space Science Institute.
Lynn Bryan, director of the College’s Center for Advancing the Learning and Teaching of STEM (CATALYST) and professor of science education, was recognized for her unwavering commitment to service and leadership in the field and over 30 years of active service and significant contributions to NARST.
According to the NARST press release, Bryan’s influential contributions to science education – spanning research, leadership, and community engagement – have significantly enhanced science education nationally and internationally and position her to be ideally deserving of this fellowship.
Bryan’s roles as past president, committee chair, and associate editor for the Journal of Research in Science Teaching reflect her commitment to the organization’s goals and mission and make her a respected and influential figure in the science education community. Her impactful research program centers on science teacher learning, emphasizing innovative approaches including integrating engineering design in K-12 science, incorporating the nanoscale in middle and high school science, and utilizing technology-enhanced, modeling-based inquiry science approaches with young children. Her collaborative projects and research contributions, published in high-impact journals, are a testament to her commitment to advancing the field and demonstrating the practical impact of her research on science education.
Her second appointment is to the board of directors for the Grand Universe, the non-profit arm of Indiana’s new Grand Universe Science & Space Experience Campus planned for Westfield, Ind. Grand Universe will host educational programs, summer camps and after-school programs developed by CATALYST. The $250 million, 78-acre campus with the “the most magnificent planetarium in the country” was scheduled to break ground on the day of the total solar eclipse in central Indiana (April 8, 2024).
“Professor Bryan’s contributions to science teaching and learning continue to be extraordinary, as evidenced by these two honors,” said Janet Alsup, head of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. “Her scholarship and engagement contribute significantly to the College of Education’s STEM education mission.”
Source: Lynn Bryan, labryan@purdue.edu