George DeBoer, Deputy Director
(202) 326-6624
George E. DeBoer is deputy director for Project 2061 of the American Association
for the Advancement of Science. He works with the director to oversee all
of the project's programs and activities in the areas of curriculum, instruction,
and assessment.
DeBoer joined Project 2061 from the Division of Elementary, Secondary, and
Informal Science of the National Science Foundation, where he served as program
director. He holds an appointment as Professor of Educational Studies at Colgate
University. In his long career at Colgate University he has held a number
of positions, including director of the Graduate Summer Session, director
of the Master of Arts in Teaching Program, chair of the Education Department,
and acting director of the Division of Social Sciences. Prior to becoming
a university professor, DeBoer taught chemistry, biology, and earth science
at Glenbrook South High School, Glenview, Illinois, and chemistry, biochemistry,
and microbiology at the Evanston Hospital School of Nursing, Northwestern
University Medical School.
DeBoer is the author of A History of Ideas in Science Education: Implications
for Practice (Columbia University Teachers College Press, 1991) as well
as numerous articles, book chapters, and reviews. He has made presentations
at national and international conferences, including the International Conference
on the History and Philosophy of Science and Science Teaching, the National
Association for Research in Science Teaching Annual Meeting, the American
Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, and the New York State Science
Supervisors Association Annual Conference. His primary research interests
are clarifying the goals of the science curriculum, analyzing the history
of science education, and analyzing the many meanings of scientific literacy.
DeBoer holds a Ph.D. in science education from Northwestern University, an
M.A.T. in biochemistry and science education from the University of Iowa,
and a B.A. in biology and chemistry from Hope College. He is a member of the
American Educational Research Association, the National Association for Research
in Science Teaching, and the National Science Teachers Association.
