Kristin L Gunckel

Kristin L. Gunckel (Ph.D., Michigan State University, 2008) is Emerit Professor of Science Education in the department of Teaching, Learning, and Sociocultural Studies. Her research focuses on learning progressions in environmental science literacy-especially water literacy-elementary teacher preparation, queering science education, and climate change education. Her research developed learning progressions, assessments, and curriculum to support students' computational modeling of water in socioecological systems and to deepen students' understanding of water as a finite and threatened resource. Dr. Gunckel also led development of the Inquiry-Application Instructional Model (I-AIM) to support preservice elementary teachers in designing lessons that foreground experience, engage learners in scientific practices, and promote sense-making. She has also applied queer theory to examine how heteronormativity shapes science and science teaching in ways that can marginalize LGBTQ youth and educators. Her current work focuses on strengthening teacher preparation in climate change education and justice-centered water curriculum for middle school science.