Franklin Pierce Professors Honored by National Science Education Organization

RINDGE, NH -- Franklin Pierce University Professors Frederick Rogers and Frank Hubacz have been elected SENCER Leadership Fellows for 2008-09 by the National Center for Science and Civic Engagement (NCSCE). Rogers is associate professor of geology and Hubacz is professor of chemistry. They are two of 76 fellows chosen from a field of 1,300 eligible faculty members and academic leaders.

NCSCE is a research center affiliated with the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology in Harrisburg, Pa. SENCER (Science Education for New Civic Engagements and Responsibilities) is the signature program of the Center. It stimulates student engagement in science and mathematics through courses and programs that focus on real world problems.

SENCER Leadership Fellows are educators who have demonstrated exemplary leadership and commitment to the improvement of science, technology, engineering and mathematics education. Rogers and Hubacz are being honored for their work in redesigning the integrated science course sequence at Franklin Pierce.

“The course sequence is now organized around complex and unsolved civic questions that engage student interest and lead to deeper learning,” said David Ferguson, chair of NCSCE’s board. “Fred and Frank have approached this re-design work as scientists, that is, they have been very attentive to feedback, whether from formal assessments or just plain careful observation. The results are encouraging and suggest that substantial and positive curricular change can be accomplished on a ‘fast track.’”

As SENCER Leadership Fellows, Rogers and Hubacz will serve an 18-month term and will consult with colleagues at Franklin Pierce who wish to re-design their courses, work to expand regional activities, bring greater attention to the SENCER approach at meetings of national organizations dedicated to improving science teaching and pursue new collaborations. In particular, they will work with the Will Steger Foundation, a national foundation dedicated to creating programs to support environmental education and policy. Rogers and Hubacz will work on a series of print and electronic educational materials focusing on the profound changes in the earth’s oceans and atmosphere. The materials will be used nationally to improve the teaching of introductory undergraduate science courses.