UA professor recognized by peers for work in science education

University of Arkansas Prof. William McComas has been named as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, recognized by his peers for contributions to science education.

The AAAS is the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the journal, “Science.” Fellowships are given to individuals whose work is deemed to have had significant scientific or social impact.

McComas was selected as fellow as part of the AAAS Education Section for his “distinguished contributions to science education through the preparation of future teachers and researchers, service to biology education as a journal editor and evolution advocate,” according to a UA press release.

McComas and 390 other new fellows will be inducted Feb. 18 during the AAAS Fellows Forum at the 2017 AAAS Annual Meeting in Boston.

Within the College of Education and Health Professions at the university, McComas holds the Parks Family Endowed Professorship in Science Education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, and he also directs the Project to Advance Science Education.

McComas has developed and currently teaches classes in educational research methods, the history and philosophy of science for science educators, issues in science education and advanced science teaching methods, in addition to The Darwin Course, an honors class that was developed by 11 university faculty members from different disciplines and looks at the implications of evolution.

“Being elected a fellow in a major scientific society such as AAAS is a wonderful honor for an educator and is particularly appropriate as it recognizes that scientific discovery and education are inexorably intertwined,” McComas said, according to the press release. “We in science education are charged with translating the work of those engaged in scientific research to inform classroom teachers at all levels, help prepare the next generation of scientists, and assist in communicating the results of science to enlighten the public and inform decision-makers.”

McComas is also the director for the Professoriate, a campus-wide program designed to assist doctoral students in securing positions and earning tenure and promotion in higher education institutions, and has served in leadership roles with the National Science Teachers Association, the International History, Philosophy and Science Teaching Group, the National Association of Biology Teachers and the Association for Science Teacher Education. He is currently editor of the journal, “The American Biology Teacher.”

His work in the philosophy of science has resulted in several books including “The Scopes Monkey Trial,” published by Arcadia Publishing for its “Images of America” series, and “The Nature of Science in Science Education: Rationales and Strategies,” published by Springer due out in a new edition by the end of 2017, according to the press release.

Michael Miller, dean of the College of Education and Health Professions, said, “This is an incredible honor for Bill, and one that he richly deserves. Bill has earned tremendous respect from his faculty colleagues in the college, and this honor is a reflection of the respect he has from his colleagues nationally. His election is not a surprise to us. It is something he has earned.”