The Role of Scientist-Educator Partnerships in Improving Science Education

Vital to meeting the need for improved science education is the involvement of scientists in collegial partnership with science educators. Potential partners in education include educators who work in school classrooms, museums, aquariums, planetariums, and other organizations that develop educational products and programming. Successful partnerships elicit complementary talents and expertise from each partner and offer the opportunity for each to develop additional capabilities. Both parties can increase their awareness and appreciation of each other as professionals in allied realms of endeavor, expand their skills in co-creating effective science learning experiences for others, and develop confidence in playing leadership roles in science education reform. Such mutual professional development is the primary advantage of scientist-educator partnerships, and while this is good and valuable to science education, it is not easy to achieve. Good partners must endeavor to navigate the natural challenges and cultural differences that may arise in a way that is responsible to the ultimate needs of the learners. A successful scientist-educator partnership can be a rewarding source of mutual satisfaction and enjoyment as the goals of providing effective science learning experiences for students or colleagues are realized.