Leaders from the Mathematics and Science Education department were chosen as keynote presenters for the International Forum on STEM and Science and Technology Innovation Education Conference in Shanghai November 9–12. The Chinese Society of Education organized the annual forum.

Norman Lederman, Distinguished Professor and Mathematics and science education head, delivered the keynote speech titled, “The Ends May Justify the Means, but the Means Should Never Become the Ends.” In his presentation, he spoke to the equal importance of scientific knowledge, scientific investigation and practices and understanding scientific inquiry and the nature of science.

Judith Lederman, associate professor and director of teacher education, also presented “Developing and Sustaining a Culture of Curiosity in STEM Education.” Her presentation modeled inquiry instruction that promotes questioning and fosters curiosity in children, as well as sharing other successful teaching and assessment techniques to learn about STEM in both formal and informal settings.

Both professors teach a full range of graduate courses in secondary science education and are both internationally known for research on the development of students’ and teachers’ conception of the nature of science and scientific inquiry.