Martin Storksdieck,Ph.D., Director of the Board of Science Education,  The National Research Council, The National Academy of Sciences

"Current science education reform--tsunami or tempest in a teapot?"

Martin Storksdieck is the director of the Board on Science Education at the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences, where he oversees studies that address a wide range of issues related to science education and science learning across the lifespan. These include the recent Framework for K-12 Science Education that forms the blueprint for the development of the Next Generation Science Standards, and the Successful K-12 STEM Schools and subsequent Monitoring Progress Towards Successful K-12 Education reports. Martin previously served as director of project development and senior researcher at the not-for-profit Institute for Learning Innovation, where he studied science learning in immersive environments; models of involving researchers and scientists in science museums and science centers; understanding the impact of science hobbyists, such as amateur astronomers, on the public understanding of science; or ways to better connect science learning in and out of schools. At ILI, Martin also conducted front-end, formative and summative project evaluations in the area of informal and environmental science education.

Before his involvement in science education and learning research, Martin developed shows and programs on global environmental change for a planetarium in Germany; served as editor, host, and producer for a weekly environmental news broadcast; and worked on local environmental management systems and sustainability for the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives’ European office.  He holds a master’s in biology from the Albert-Ludwigs University (Freiburg, Germany), a master’s in public administration from Harvard University, and a Ph.D. in education from Leuphana University (Lüneburg, Germany).

Tuesday, April 2, 2013, 9:00 - 10:00, Symposium Keynote Address

"Graduate Education as THE Driver of Academic Excellence"

Robert M. Augustine was named Dean of the Graduate School at Eastern Illinois University in January 2000.  He holds a PhD degree from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and BSE and MS degrees from Illinois State University in communication sciences and disorders.  In addition to his administrative appointment, he holds tenure as a professor of communication disorders & sciences and served as professor and chair of the program prior to his appointment as dean. 

Augustine currently holds leadership responsibilities for Graduate Study, Research and Sponsored Programs, the Office of International Students and Scholars and the Study Abroad Office.  He has served a variety of leadership roles for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) including Vice President for Finance of the ASHA Board of Directors.  He was inducted as a Fellow of ASHA in 1999.  Augustine has also served in leadership roles in graduate education including two terms as President of the Illinois Association of Graduate Schools and service on the Executive Committee of the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools.  He was elected to serve a three-year term on the Board of Directors of the Council of Graduate Schools and is currently serving as 2013 Chair of the Council.  Dean Augustine holds the Departmental Distinguished Alumnus Award from both Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and Illinois State University.  He is the recipient of the EIU Distinguished Teaching Award, the Dean’s Award for Service, and the EIU Technology Leadership Award.  He served as a Visiting International Scholar at Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia.  Recently Augustine earned the Midwestern Association of Graduate School’s Award for Excellence in Graduate Education in 2011 and the ETS/CGS Award for Promoting Success in Graduate Education.   Augustine recently published Facilitating Academic Program Capacity: Issues of Mission, Quality, and Resources with Dr. Mary Anne Hanner for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.