Maine PSP Post-Doc Receives NARST Scholarship

MainePSP Post-Doc Receives NARST ScholarshipShirly Avargil, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Maine Physical Sciences Partnership

Shirly Avargil, a current postdoctoral research associate with the Maine Physical Sciences Partnership and the Maine Center for Research in STEM Education, has recently been selected by the NARST Equity and Ethics Committee to receive the Jhumki Basu Equity Scholars Award.  As a 2013 Basu Scholar, she will receive a scholarship that supports the expenses of attending this year’s Annual NARST Conference that will be taking place this March in Puerto Rico.  Only 15 NARST members were chosen to receive this award, which supports advanced-level doctoral students and junior scholars from underrepresented groups in the United States.
The Basu Scholarship program is designed to not only provide a financial award to its recipients, but also to help support and develop their research skills.  This is carried out by requiring recipients to attend the NARST Conference and to participate in the Pre-Conference Workshop.
Avargil’s research focuses on teachers’ conceptions of progress in science education.  She is currently working on several research projects involving pre-service teachers at the University of Maine (teaching partners and chemistry students), and in-service teachers in rural Maine (teacher enactment of new science Framework and knowledge for assessment)