Students Present Their Research at the National Science Teachers Association National Meeting

Students and mentors gather at the recent National Science Teachers Association meeting (left to right) Christopher Maher, John Hoffmann, Katherine Schottmueller, Ruth Delaware, Alexandra Kiefe, Chelsea Haas and Lin Twining.

Truman State Univeristy students, Ruth Delaware from Kirksville, Chelsea Haas from Dunlap, Ill., Alexandra Kiefe from St. Peters, Mo., Christopher Maher from St. Peters, Mo., and Katherine Schottmueller from Florissant, Mo., presented the results of their research project, "Survey of Attitudes in and Teaching of Evolution by Science Teachers in Northeast Missouri," at the national meeting of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) in Anaheim, Calif., on April 7. All of these students are biology majors and pre-service MAE students.

Their study found that science teachers in northeast Missouri do indeed feel pressured to include creationism/intelligent design, or to omit evolution from their teaching. Teachers reported that the source of this pressure is students and parents, rather than school administrators or school board members.

These students also presented their results at Truman's Student Research Conference. John Hoffmann, professor of education, and Lin Twining, professor of science, served as faculty mentors for the project. The students are members of Truman's NSTA student chapter. Their research project and travel to the meeting was generously supported by the Divisions of Education and Science.