Our research group is interested in how people make meaning of natural and physical science concepts. We explore meaning making (interpretation) and learning (saving and recalling information) by studying how people speak, read, and write about science. Subsequently, we study how people demonstrate understanding (transferring knowledge to solve problems) or perform (grades, retention in major).

We conduct our work in diverse field sites:
1. undergraduate science and engineering classrooms
2. K-12 classrooms
3. informal science education experiences (museums, school gardens, citizen science organizations)

Ultimately, our research informs the science education community.
  • The findings will inform students so they can become:
    • more aware of their own conceptual difficulties and be independent learners
    • more inclusive and productive teammates during group work
    • better communicators of science
  • The findings will inform instructors of science so they can support:
    •  student learning through writing activities
    •  science communication skills
    • critical thinking during problem-based learning activities
Lab News/ Celebrations:
  • Leila Graves (lab alumna) will start a new position as a curriculum development specialist with the national FFA office starting Fall 2019!
  • Meena returned from her sabbatical in India supported by a Fulbright-Nehru Award. She worked with ecologists from Dakshin Foundation on designing a global south-specific, UNESCO-based environmental education model
  • We have two new students joining our research group: Jennifer Brady and Madison Scheer in Fall 2019
  • DeeDee Wright received an Urban Sustainability Research Fellowship for summer 2019
  • DeeDee Wright published her first paper in Advances in the Development of Human Resources in Feb 2019!
  • Dani Lin Hunter received a GDPE Small Grant for Graduate Research award in spring 2019!
  • Hayley Bubb joined the lab in Fall 2018 and is co-advised by Dr. Paul Ode (BSPM). She also received a Colorado State Graduate Fellowship (GFELL)!
  • Lisa Pitot (lab alumna) will start a new position as Assistant Professor of Science Education at University of Wisconsin Lacrosse in Fall 2018!
If you are interested in joining our research group, please contact me: Meena.Balgopal@colostate.edu
updated March 2019