LAURA D. CARSTEN CONNER
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, 2007
M.S. Technical Communication/Science Writing, University of Washington, 2001
M.S. Plant Pathology, Montana State University, 1998
B.A. Environmental, Population, & Organismal Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, 1995
TRAINING/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Faculty Learning Community, Flipped Classrooms (2013-2014)
Mediation Training, Mares-Dixon and Associates (2013)
The National Academies Summer Institutes on Undergraduate Teaching (2012)
UAF Academic Leadership Institute (2008-2009)
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2018-present Research Associate Professor of Science Education, Geophysical Institute and College of Natural Science and Mathematics, UAF
2014-2018 Research Assistant Professor of Science Education, Geophysical Institute and College of Natural Science and Mathematics, UAF
2010-2014 Director of Outreach/Research Assistant Professor of Science Education, College of Natural Science and Mathematics, UAF
2007- 2010 Director of Public Programs, University of Alaska Museum of the North/ Adjunct Faculty, Dept. of Biology and Wildlife, UAF
2006- 2007 Curriculum Developer/Writer, Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks
2005- 2006 Director of K-12 Insect Discovery Program (through a NSF GK-12 teaching fellowship), University of Arizona
2004- 2005 NSF IGERT (Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship) in genomics fellow
2003- 2004 NSF GK-12 Teaching Fellow, University of Arizona
2002- 2003 Teaching Assistant, Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona
2002 Science Writing Intern, Discover Magazine, New York, New York
2001 Teaching Assistant, Dept. of Technical Communication, University of Washington
1999-2000 Research Associate/ Instructor, Dept. of Plant Pathology, Montana State University
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
Manuscript reviewer (2012-2015)
Visitor Studies, CourseSource, Functional Ecology, Journal of Insect Behavior
Panel reviewer (2012-2015)
National Science Foundation (4 panels, several ad-hoc reviews)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (1 panel)
Convened session on science and art, American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting (2015)
Program evaluator for the NSF-funded “Girls on Ice’ program (2011-2015)
Script editor for the 7-minute movie “The Changing Arctic,’ a film produced by the University of Alaska Museum of the North and formatted for spherical display systems used at museums across the nation (2011)
Guest curator of the Butterfly Pavilion, University of Alaska Museum of the North (2010)
GRANTS RECEIVED
NSF (PI) Advancing Informal Science Learning program. “Collaborative Research: Fostering STEAM through ISL professional development.’ (2017-2022). $1.7 million.
NSF (PI) Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers. “BRIGHT Girls (Budding Research investigators in Geosciences, Habitat, and Technology).’ (2015-2018). $1.1 million.
DOE (Co-PI since 2014) Investing in Innovation program. “Alaska Statewide Mentoring Program Urban Growth Opportunity.’ (2012-2016). $14.9 million.
NSF (Co-PI) Advancing Informal Science Learning program. “Hot Times in Cold Places: The Hidden World of Permafrost.’ (2014-2018). $2.9 million.
NSF (PI) Informal Science Education Program. “Collaborative Research: Project STEAM: Integrating Art with Science to Build Science Identities among Girls.’ (2012-2016). $1.2 million.
NSF (PI) Graduate STEM Fellows in K-12 Education (GK–12) Program. “New GK-12 program: the CASE (Changing Alaska Science Education) for enhancing understanding of climate change.’ (2010-2016). $2.8 million.
NASA (Co-I) Competitive Program for Science Museums and Planetariums. “Climate Change: NASA’s eyes on the Arctic’ (2010-2014). $979,766.
Alaska Space Grant (PI) “Extending the reach of the portable planetarium: NASA science meets Alaska culture.’ (2009-2010). $88,343.
NASA (Co-I) Opportunities in Science Mission Directorate Education and Public Outreach. “Bringing NASA science to America’s most remote communities with a digital portable planetarium.’ (2009-2012). $488,219.
AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS
Emil Usibelli Distinguished Public Service Award, 2016
American Graduate Champion for Youth, 2015 (for associated video, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNxnLu-Ebz4)
Fairbanks North Star Borough resolution honoring my work with youth, 2015
National Academies Education Fellow in the Life Sciences, 2012-2013
BIO5 Institute K-12 Education Outreach Award, University of Arizona, 2006
Robert W. Hoshaw Scholarship, 2005.
NSF GK-12 Teaching Fellowship, 2003-2004 and 2005-2006
NSF IGERT Genomics Fellowship, 2004-2005
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship honorable mention, 2004
PUBLICATIONS
Carsten Conner, L.D., Perin, S.M., & Pettit, E. (2018). Tacit knowledge and girls’ notions about a field science community of practice. International Journal of Science Education. DOI: 10.1080/21548455.2017.1421798.
Carsten Conner, L.D., Tzou, C., Tsurusaki, B.K., Guthrie, M.G., Pompea, S., & Teal-Sullivan, P. (2017). Designing STEAM for broad participation in science. Creative Education, 8, 2222-2231.
Tsurusaki, B.K., Tzou, C., Carsten Conner, L.D., & Guthrie, M.G. (2017). 5th-7th grade girls’ conceptions of creativity: implications for STEAM education. Creative Education, 8, 255-271.
Teal-Sullivan, P. Carsten Conner, L.D., Guthrie, M., Pompea, S., Tsurusaki, B., & Tzou, C. (2017). Colorful Chemistry: A STEAM activity has students paint with the power of chemical reactions. Science and Children, 54, 34-40.
Carsten Conner, L.D., and Danielson, J. (2016). Scientist Role Models in the Classroom: How important is gender matching? International Journal of Science Education, 38, 2414-2430. DOI: 10.1080/09500693.2016.1246780.
Spellman, K., Deutsch, A., Mulder, C., Conner, L. (2016). Metacognitive learning in the ecology classroom: a tool for preparing problem solvers in a time of rapid change? Ecosphere, 7, 1-18.
Tsurusaki, B., Tzou, C., Conner, L, Guthrie, M. (2016). Colors of nature: exploring middle school girls’ notions of creativity in an art/science academy. In Looi, C-K., Polman, J., Cress, U., & Reimann, P. (Eds.) (2016). The International Conference of the Learning Sciences (ICLS) 2016: Transforming Learning, Empowering Learners (2: pp1269-1270).
Carsten Conner, L.D., Larson, A., Arseneau, J. and Herrick, R. (2015). Elementary student knowledge gains in the digital portable planetarium. Journal of Astronomy and Earth Sciences Education, 2, 65-76.
Pompea, S.M. and Carsten-Conner, L. D. (2015). Teaching Optics Concepts through an Approach that Emphasizes the “Colors of Nature.’ Proceedings of the Education and Training in Optics and Photonics Conference 2015, Bordeaux France, 29 June 2015 (Invited Paper).
Hoskinson, A-M., Conner, L., Hester, S., Leigh, M.B., Martin, A.P. and Powers, T. (2014). Coevolution or not? Crossbills, squirrels and pinecones.CourseSource. https://coursesource.org/courses/coevolution-or-not-crossbills-squirrels-and-pinecones
Tzou, C., Conner, L., Guthrie, M., and Pompea, S. (2014). Colors of Nature: connecting science and arts education to promote STEM-related identity work in middle school girls. In Polman, J. L., Kyza, E., O’Neill, D. K., Tabak, I., Penuel, W. R., Jurow, A. S., O’Connor, K., Lee, T., and D’Amico, L. (Eds.). Proceedings of the International Conference of the Learning Sciences (ICLS) 2014: Learning and becoming in practice 3:1555-1556.
Carsten-Conner, L.D., Larson, A. and Diebel, C. (2014). What matters to stakeholders? Measuring values at a university museum. Visitor Studies, 17, 45-65.
Carsten-Conner, L.D., and Stoll, K. (2013). GK-12 Beyond the Classroom: Community Partnerships and Informal Learning. In “The Power of Partnerships: A Guide from the NSF GK-12 Program,” Eds. Stoll, K., Ortega, S. and Spuck, T. AAAS, Washington, D.C. pp. 63-72.
Carsten-Conner, L.D., Papaj, D.R., and O’Brien, D.M. (2010). Resource allocation to testes in walnut flies and implications for reproductive strategy. Journal of Insect Physiology, 56,1523-1529.
Bittel, K., and Carsten, L. 2006. Caring about Karyotyping. Science Scope, 29, 56-60.
Carsten, L.D., and Papaj, D.R. (2005). Effects of reproductive state and host resource experience on mating decisions in a walnut fly. Behavioral Ecology, 16, 521-527.
Carsten, L.D., Watts, T., and Markow, T.A. (2005). Gene expression patterns accompanying a dietary shift in Drosophila melanogaster. Molecular Ecology, 14, 3203-3208.
Carsten, L.D., Illman, D.L. (2002). Perceptions of accuracy in science writing. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication, 45, 153-156.
Carsten, L.D., Juola, F.A., Male, T.D., and Cherry, S. (2002). Host associations of lianas in a southeast Queensland rainforest. Journal of Tropical Ecology, 18, 107-120.
Carsten, L.D., Maxwell, B., Johnston, M.R., and Sands, D.C. (2001). Impact of crown rust (Puccinia coronata f.sp. avenae) on competitive interactions between wild oats (Avena fatua) and stipa (Nassella pulchra), Biological Control, 22, 207-218.
Pilegram, A.L., Carsten, L.D., and Sands, D.C. (2001). Genetic improvement of mycoherbicides. In: The Mycota X, industrial Applications, ed Heinz Osiewacz.Spinger-verlag, Berlin. Pp 367-374.
Carsten, L.D., Johnston, M.R., Douglas, L.I., and Sands, D.C. (2000). A field trial of crown rust (Puccinia coronata f. sp. avenae) as a biocontrol agent of wild oats on San Clemente Island. Biological Control, 19, 175-181.
Tiourebaev, K.S., Semenchenko, G.V., Dolgovskaya, M., McCarthy, M.K., Anderson, T.W., Carsten, L.D., Pilgeram, A.L., and Sands, D.C. (2001). Biological Control of Infestations of Ditchweed (Cannabis sativa) with Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. Cannabis in Kazakhstan. Biocontrol Science and Technology, 11, 535-540.
Johnston, M.R., Carsten, L.D., Douglas, L.I., and Sands, D.C. (2000). Epidemic development and virulence of Puccinia coronata f. sp. avenae on San Clemente Island. Biological Control, 17, 250-257.
PUBLICATIONS FOR THE POPULAR PRESS
Stories (All authored by L.D. Carsten):
The bigger the better? Discover.com, June 2002.
Garden fugitives, Discover.com, June 2002.
Kissing cousins revisited, Discover.com, June 2002.
Getting hooked, Blue Planet Quarterly, Summer 2002.
A mean, clean, snow machine, Discover.com, May 2002.
The road more traveled, sageke.sciencemag.org, the science of aging knowledge environment, April 17, 2002.
Fire Wars, Discover.com, May 2002.
Biotech companies woo investors, Northwest Science & Technology, Spring 2002.
Red Tides (co-written with Meg Hamner), Northwest Science & Technology, Spring 2002.
The promise of bioremediation, Northwest Science & Technology, Spring 2002.
Review: Atlas of Oregon, Northwest Science & Technology, Spring 2002.
Review: Forest giants of the pacific coast, Northwest Science & Technology, Spring 2002.
Review: Higher than Everest, Northwest Science & Technology, Spring 2002.
Ida Gold, Northwest Science & Technology, Spring 2002.
Offshore trilling, Horizon Air, January 2002.
Neptune’s bounty: marine-derived molecules hold promise as therapeutic drugs, Northwest Science & Technology, Winter 2002.
Salmon like it wet and briny, ABCNEWS.com, July 9, 2001.
Salmon tracking, ABCNEWS.com. July 16, 2001.
Nature takes over, ABCNEWS.com, July 23, 2001.
Review: Exploring Coast Salish prehistory, Northwest Science & Technology, Autumn 2001.
Products from the sea: chitosan, Northwest Science & Technology, Autumn 2001.
Life in extreme environments, Northwest Science & Technology, Spring 2001.
Viruses in the service of medicine, Northwest Science & Technology, Winter 2000.
News briefs:
Doing swimmingly with the sharks, Discover magazine, August 2002.
Lights out for the birds, Discover magazine, August 2002.
Climate on the wing, Discover magazine, August 2002.
I know that smell…, Discover magazine, July 2002.
Counting on biodiversity, Discover magazine, July 2002.
Nobel Prize awarded to Northwesterner, Northwest Science & Technology, Spring 2002.
Canadian Foundation for Innovation funds UVic research, Northwest Science & Technology, Spring 2002.
WSU researcher identifies mutant gene in collies, Northwest Science & Technology, Spring 2002.
UBC tackles acid mine drainage, Northwest Science & Technology, Spring 2002.
Rural nursing in Oregon gets a boost, Northwest Science & Technology, Spring 2002.
UW professor searches for cleaner fuel, Northwest Science & Technology, Autumn 2001.
UO program to boost women in chemistry, Northwest Science & Technology, Autumn 2001.
UVic researcher to probe tumor-suppressing proteins, Northwest Science & Technology, Autumn 2001.
Northwest partnership to test energy-saving technology for industrial motors, Northwest Science & Technology, Autumn 2001.
Federal grant helps keep rural hospitals alive, Northwest Science & Technology, Autumn 2001.
MSU researcher to study links between agricultural practices and climate change, Northwest Science & Technology, Autumn 2001.
Lazowska elected to National Academy of Engineering, Northwest Science & Technology, Autumn 2001.
SFU criminology professor recognized by Time magazine, Northwest Science & Technology, Autumn 2001.
MEMBERSHIPS
National Association for Research in Science Teaching
International Society of the Learning Sciences
American Geophysical Union
National Science Teachers Association