In a typical citizen science scenario different groups of people take on various roles in a research process that is often coupled with educational, social or personal objectives. A widely accepted viewpoint asserts that such an endeavor should bring benefits to all involved parties and that no participating individuals should act "in…

In this paper the author looks at the letters of two renowned women mathematicians and scientists of the Victorian period, Mary Somerville and Ada Lovelace, while also considering the imperceptibility of Sophie Germain, an important French mathematician and philosopher in their epistolary exchanges and philosophical writings. Drawing on the…

Purpose: Research of mindfulness-based programming/interventions (MBP) for youth has proliferated in recent years; however, heterogeneity of MBP for youth impede determination of optimal programmatic structure across developmental periods. Design/Approach/Methods: Expert MBP scientists and instructors were iteratively surveyed using the Delphi…

Research and development (R&D) is vital for economic growth, and external funding is crucial for developing countries like Egypt to compete globally. The European Union (EU) Framework Programs (FPs) offer significant funding opportunities, but challenges in accessing these funds remain underexplored for countries like Egypt. This study…

This paper focuses on the potential of storytelling as a means of influencing students to become engaged with science and to choose a career in a STEM field. Given the role that leaders can play in motivating and influencing people and considering Nikola Tesla a leader in the fields of electrical engineering and science, the paper identifies…

In 1900, three botanists claimed they had found regularities in inheritance, which soon would be known as Mendel's Laws, without knowing the work of Gregor Mendel or of each other. Their claims of independent (re)discovery have been thoroughly studied during the past decades, with various outcomes. The case is still of interest today as it offers…

This dissertation features a set of three sub-studies situated within a larger Critical Participatory Ethnography investigating how participatory science unfolds between youth and scientists to address issues of marine plastic pollution. Collectively the papers provide insights into how to navigate the slippery, but necessary, terrain of teaching…

The book "Superhero Scientists" is a non-fiction text for children to read about people involved in the fascinating world of science. The 21 chapters are full of facts, life stories and scientific discoveries. From astrophysicists to pilots, epidemiologists to vets, marine biologists to scene of crime officers--the book details why they…

The purpose of this study was to investigate preservice science teachers' favorite scientists. This study was conducted according to a screening model. The study group consisted of 199 volunteer preservice teachers who were studying in the science education department at a state university in Turkey. Of the total preservice science teachers, 56…

Many scientists routinely generalize from study samples to larger populations. It is commonly assumed that this cognitive process of scientific induction is a voluntary inference in which researchers assess the generalizability of their data and then draw conclusions accordingly. We challenge this view and argue for a novel account. The account…

As a member of the team that created elements 104 and 105 at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, James Andrew Harris [1932-2000] was the first African American credited in the discovery of an element. This factoid has been posted on social media, used in a quiz game, and repeated on numerous Web sites. The story (if any context is offered at all) is…

The purpose of this reflective article is to examine how structured STEM programs often fail to promote key traits that are crucial to the scientific process including creativity, wonder, curiosity, and imagination. Typical STEM programs are content-driven, outcome-oriented, and scripted in a curriculum-centered, teacher-directed manner. Because…

From my own standpoint as a scientist, I, in this paper attempt to explore the scientific judgement-making process from an ethical perspective. In the process of developing truthful scientific knowledge, there are a myriad of judgements to make for the scientist. However, our contemporary world, dominated by technology, rules and regulations,…

Sometimes it takes little to keep this physicist happy on an airplane. A window seat, where the plane's shadow is visible or has disappeared into the distance, provides the opportunity to observe a variety of phenomena associated with sunlight that is reflected, refracted or scattered back towards the Sun. The term "backscattering" is…

The present study examines the influence of individual competencies on knowledge integration in inter- and transdisciplinary work. Perspective taking, reflexivity, analogical reasoning, and tolerance of ambiguity and uncertainty were investigated as core competencies for fostering knowledge integration. Additional hypotheses assumed that the…