Teaching Opportunity for STEM Post Docs
Citizen Science at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY is seeking instructors
for January 2019. Citizen Science is an innovative program designed to provide
opportunities for students in their first year of college to develop their personal
science literacy through hands-on, real-world coursework and projects. We ask…
- What does it mean to be scientifically literate?
- What is the role of citizens when it comes to weighing in on important scientific
issues? - How can citizens find the scientific information they need in order to meet the
challenges they face in their lives and respond to the scientific issues of their
day? - What are the skills we all need in order to adequately and thoroughly interpret
scientific claims, and how can we be sure that the conduct, analysis, and
interpretation of science are not unduly influenced by political or other
potentially distorting factors?
Inspired by stories from places like Flint, MI, and Hoosick Falls, NY, the 2019 Citizen
Science program will tackle urgent, present-day questions related to water. We will
explore the properties of water, as well as how these properties influence the
contamination (and decontamination) of drinking water. We will also consider the
extent to which problems of contamination are not purely scientific in nature:
where and how does politics enter the picture? In what ways are social, historical,
and political factors at work even when we think we are engaged in “objective”
science? Using laboratory investigations and active classroom discussions during
these few intensive January weeks, the focus will be on the creation, analysis, and
interpretation of scientific evidence.
Successful candidates will possess or be near completion of a Ph.D. or equivalent in
a STEM related discipline and be willing to engage students of all disciplines in a
common educational experience. No specific background in the science of water is
required. Prior teaching experience is not a requirement, although candidates with
evidence of training in or experience with the application of best practices in
undergraduate STEM education will be given special consideration.
All hired faculty will be required to attend training at Bard College campus July 22-
27, 2018 for mandatory faculty training. Faculty will be required to arrive to
campus for the Citizen Science program the first week of January for pre-program
work. The program runs through Friday, January 25, 2019. Travel, food and
dormitory housing will be provided for both the July and January sessions, and
faculty will receive a stipend payable at the end of the January session.
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis beginning on Wednesday, April 4,
2018. We will give preference to applications received by Monday, April 30th. Applications received after April 30th will be accepted and considered on a rolling basis until all positions are filled.
If you are interested in learning more or applying, email citizenscience@bard.edu
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