Professor of Science Education
Dr.William W. Cobern is Distinguished University Faculty Scholar and Professor of Science Education at the Mallinson Institute for Science Education, Western Michigan University.
He began his academic career as an undergraduate student in biology and chemistry at the University of California, San Diego. He later taught high school science for several years and at the same time completed a Master’s degree program involving biology, anthropology, and education graduate courses.
In 1976, he enrolled in the science education doctoral program at the University of Colorado, Boulder. There he worked on secondary and middle school science curricula at BSCS, studied philosophy of science and research methods. His doctorate degree was awarded with a cognate in quantitative research methods.
Dr. Cobern then spent the next four and a half years at the University of Sokoto, Nigeria, where he developed a greater interest in the non-quantitative disciplines of the philosophy and sociology of science. His personal research focused on the development of relevant formal education for Fulani pastoralists that would be consistent with their traditional ways of life. From these experiences grew the conviction that science educators must understand the fundamental, culturally based beliefs about the world that students, teachers, and curricula bring to class, and how these beliefs are supported by culture; because, science education can be successful only to the extent that science can find a niche in the cognitive and socio cultural milieu of students. His work has been funded by grants from the National Science Foundation.
Since those days in Nigeria, his research has developed from this conviction. While continuing work related to culture and religion. His areas of interest and expertise are:
1) Cognition and learning with respect to the teaching of science.
2) The history and philosophy of science as related to science education.
3) Research methodologies where his primary areas of expertise are in research and evaluation methodologies, specifically with randomized control trials and quasi-experimental research designs as defined in the What Works Clearinghouse, with knowledge of education data sources and measures of program implementation and outcomes.
He maintains an active research agenda and is also a frequent evaluation plan reviewer for the US Department of Education grant programs. He has had extensive experience conducting evaluation/evidence reviews for the USDOE i3 programs, the Full-Service Community Schools’ program, the National Professional Development program, the Education Innovation and Research program, the High School Equivalency Program/College Assistance Migrant Program, and the Minority Science & Engineering Improvement program, the Statewide Family Engagement Centers Program, and the School Leadership program. He has also done evaluation reviews for US Department of Labor grant competitions.
At WMU, he served fourteen years as the Mallinson Institute Director (2003-2017). He currently teaches a variety of courses for science teacher development and science education research, and is the academic advisor for the MA program in science education. He supervises several doctoral students who are at the dissertation research level.
Dr. Cobern has been a guest lecturer in Australia, Brazil, Egypt, Germany, Japan, Lebanon, Malawi, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, South Africa, Taiwan, and Turkey. He has been a Fulbright Fellow in Turkey. He is an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Scientific Affiliation, and the American Education Research Association.
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About William Cobern
Dr.William W. Cobern is Distinguished University Faculty Scholar and Professor of Science Education at the Mallinson Institute for Science Education, Western Michigan University.
He began his academic career as an undergraduate student in biology and chemistry at the University of California, San Diego. He later taught high school science for several years and at the same time completed a Master’s degree program involving biology, anthropology, and education graduate courses.
In 1976, he enrolled in the science education doctoral program at the University of Colorado, Boulder. There he worked on secondary and middle school science curricula at BSCS, studied philosophy of science and research methods. His doctorate degree was awarded with a cognate in quantitative research methods.
Dr. Cobern then spent the next four and a half years at the University of Sokoto, Nigeria, where he developed a greater interest in the non-quantitative disciplines of the philosophy and sociology of science. His personal research focused on the development of relevant formal education for Fulani pastoralists that would be consistent with their traditional ways of life. From these experiences grew the conviction that science educators must understand the fundamental, culturally based beliefs about the world that students, teachers, and curricula bring to class, and how these beliefs are supported by culture; because, science education can be successful only to the extent that science can find a niche in the cognitive and socio cultural milieu of students. His work has been funded by grants from the National Science Foundation.
Since those days in Nigeria, his research has developed from this conviction. While continuing work related to culture and religion. His areas of interest and expertise are:
1) Cognition and learning with respect to the teaching of science.
2) The history and philosophy of science as related to science education.
3) Research methodologies where his primary areas of expertise are in research and evaluation methodologies, specifically with randomized control trials and quasi-experimental research designs as defined in the What Works Clearinghouse, with knowledge of education data sources and measures of program implementation and outcomes.
He maintains an active research agenda and is also a frequent evaluation plan reviewer for the US Department of Education grant programs. He has had extensive experience conducting evaluation/evidence reviews for the USDOE i3 programs, the Full-Service Community Schools’ program, the National Professional Development program, the Education Innovation and Research program, the High School Equivalency Program/College Assistance Migrant Program, and the Minority Science & Engineering Improvement program, the Statewide Family Engagement Centers Program, and the School Leadership program. He has also done evaluation reviews for US Department of Labor grant competitions.
At WMU, he served fourteen years as the Mallinson Institute Director (2003-2017). He currently teaches a variety of courses for science teacher development and science education research, and is the academic advisor for the MA program in science education. He supervises several doctoral students who are at the dissertation research level.
Dr. Cobern has been a guest lecturer in Australia, Brazil, Egypt, Germany, Japan, Lebanon, Malawi, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, South Africa, Taiwan, and Turkey. He has been a Fulbright Fellow in Turkey. He is an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Scientific Affiliation, and the American Education Research Association.
| Present | Professor of Science Education, Western Michigan University ‐ Mallinson Institute for Science Education | |
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Disciplines
Honors and Awards
- 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 Fullbright Fellow to Turkey
| 1976 - 1979 | PhD, University of Colorado, Boulder ‐ Science Education | |
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| 1972 - 1975 | MA, San Diego State University ‐ Education | |
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| 1967 - 1971 | BA, University of California, San Diego ‐ Revelle College | |
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