Hired in 2010, Jennifer Forrester specializes in science education, biology, biochemistry, neurobiology, anatomy, and physiology. She holds a BS in biology from Western Carolina University, an MAT in science education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and a Ph.D. in science education from North Carolina State University.

Research Interests: Forrester studies the influence of participating in a competitive science event on academic major choice, career selection, science self-efficacy, and documented gender and race gaps within science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines; the assimilation into the culture of science for P-20 students as well as pre-service and in-service elementary school teachers; and the impact of western culture on indigenous science (TEK).

Courses Teaching: Math/Science Methods (EDEL 4409); Teacher as Practitioner (EDST 3000)

Office Hours: Tuesday, Thursday  9-11 am or by appointment

Best Method of Communication: Email

Affiliations, Associations, Consultations: American Indian Science and Engineering Society (since 2008); School Science and Mathematics Association (since 2008); Society for Advancement of Chicano/a and Native Americans in Science (since 2008); American Educational Research Association (since 2006); Association for Science Teacher Education (since 2004); North Carolina Science Teachers Association (since 2005); National Association for Research in Science Teaching (since 2005); Mid-Atlantic Region of the Association for Science Teacher Education (since 2004); National Science Teachers Association (since 2006); Nanotechnology Informal Science Education Network (since 2007)

Current Committees: Casper Mountain Science School Advisory Board; Learning Community Leadership Committee

Current Publications: Pugalee, D.K., Hartman, K., & Forrester, J.H. (2008). Assessing Middle School Grades Students' Quantitative Literacy. Investigations in Mathematics Learning, 1(2); Gardner, G.E., Jones, M.G., Taylor, A.R., Forrester, J.H., and Robertson, L. (2009). Students' Risk Perceptions of Nanotechnology Applications: Implications for Science Education. International Journal of Science Education. First published on November 18, 2009 (iFirst); Jones, M.G., Gardner, G.E., Taylor, A.R., Wiebe, E., and Forrester, J.H. (2010). Conceptualizing Magnification and Scale: The Roles of Spatial Visualization and Logical Thinking. Research in Science Education; Jones, M.G., Taylor, A., and Forrester, J.H. (2010). Developing a Scientist: A Retrospective Look. Manuscript accepted at International Journal of Science Education

Current Awards: 2008 Graduate Research Award at the Society for Advancement of Chicano/a and Native Americans in Science National Conference; 2008 Society for Advancement of Chicano/a and Native Americans in Science National Conference Travel and Lodging Scholarship; 2008 National Association of Research in Science Teaching Equity Scholars Award; 2007 Carl Storm Underrepresented Minority Fellowship for Gordon Research Conference on Chemistry Education in Lewiston, Maine; 2007 Nanotechnology Education Outreach (NEO) Fellow, NSF supported grant in San Francisco, California; 2007 Agnes and Garfield Stiff Fellowship, North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina.