Director of The George G. Mallinson Institute for Science Education Biological Sciences and Science Education, Western Michigan University, MI, U.S.A. He is director of The Mallinson Institute for Science Education, Distinguished University Professor of Biology & Science Education, Department of Biological Sciences from 2003. He was also Associate Dean for Academic Programs, College of Education at Western Michigan University. Moreover, he was studied Professor of Science Education, Department of Teaching, Learning and Leadership. For the last few years, he focused on cultural and cross-cultural dimensions of education. He also supervised lots of academicians all over the world. EDUCATION
1976/1979 University of Colorado, Boulder; Major: Science Education; Minor: Research and Evaluation Methodology; Other graduate work: 9 hours in Biology; Degree: Ph.D., 1979 1973/1975 San Diego State University (part-time); Major: Education; Degree: M.A. 1972/1973 San Diego State University; -one semester graduate work in Biology; two semesters in Education Credential: Secondary Teaching Credential for Biology, Chemistry and English 1967/1971 University of California, San Diego (Revelle College); Major: Biology; Minors: Literature and Chemistry; Degree: B.A., 1971 GRANTS
Dr. Cobern has been the PI or co-PI on over $6M in National Science Foundation grants. The most recent include: NSF-IERI Supplement Award ($136,000) PI─ Doctoral student support (2010-2011) NSF-S-STEM ($460,000) co-PI ─ "Improving the STEM workforce by improving community college science teachers" (2008-2013). NSF-ASA Supplement Award (~$40,000) PI─ International Extension of “Assessing pedagogical content knowledge of inquiry science teaching– developing an assessment instrument in support of the undergraduate preparation of elementary teachers to teach science as inquiry” into China, Malawi, Turkey & Uganda (2007-2009) NSF Discovery Research (DR-K12) program ($1.3 millions/5 years). Co-PI─ “Assessment for Learning” (2007-2012) NSF-ASA Award (~$400,000) Co-PI─ Assessing pedagogical content knowledge of inquiry science teaching– developing an assessment instrument in support of the undergraduate preparation of elementary teachers to teach science as inquiry (2005-2008). NSF-IERI Award (~1.9m) PI-- An experimental efficacy study of science achievement and attitude development amongst 8th grade urban students using an inquiry, integrated science-mathematics-engineering model of instruction (2004-2009). NSF-STEP Award (~2.0m) Co-PI with Tsang & Ginsberg. Student and Faculty Learning Communities to Increase Graduation Rates in STEM Disciplines (2004-2009). NSF Award ($90,000) Bridging Engineering and Education (2002). Two Co-PIs on the project NSF Award ($899,000) Enlist, Equip, Empower: A project to develop middle school science teachers (2002-2005). Four Co-PIs on the project. EDITORIAL REVIEW
Book Series Editor (2000-2004), Kluwer Academic Publishers, Science and Technology Library Section Editor for Culture and Comparative Studies (1996-2002), Science Education Board Member (1996-2005), Science Education Review Board Member (2003-2009), American Education Research Journal Review Board Member, Electronic Journal of Science Education Charter Board Member, Canadian Journal of Science and Technology Education Occasional reviewer for: International Journal of Science Education, Journal for Research in Science Teaching, Science & Education, Science Education, The Public Interest in Science HONORS
1996, elected Fellow, American Scientific Affiliation 2005, elected Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science 2008, named Fellow, American Educational Research Association 2008, named Distinguished University Professor, Western Michigan University 2011, named Fulbright Scholar to Turkey