The American Educational Research Association (AERA) has selected University of Delaware faculty member Kathryn C. Scantlebury as the recipient of its 2017 Distinguished Contributions to Gender Equity in Education Research Award.

Scantlebury is a professor of chemistry and biochemistry, director of secondary education and coordinator of secondary science education, all in UD’s College of Arts and Sciences, and a professor of education in the College of Education and Human Development.

AERA confers the award to recognize individuals for distinguished research, professional practice and activities that advance public understanding of gender and/or sexuality at any level in the education community.

Scantlebury is widely recognized for her work in science education, which began when she taught high school chemistry, science and mathematics in the 1980s and mentored new teachers in her classroom.

She went on to earn a doctorate in science education at Purdue University and joined the UD faculty in 1993. She has published numerous journal articles and book chapters and is co-editor of Re-visioning Science Education from Feminist Perspectives: Challenges, Choices and Careers and Coteaching in International Contexts: Research and Practice.

Scantlebury has used feminist theory and pedagogy to frame her research, which focuses on equity issues in various aspects of science teacher education, including urban education, preservice teacher education and the professional development of teachers.

She was the research director for the National Science Teachers Association from 2011-2014 and is currently one of the co-editors of the journal Gender and Education.

In 2009, she was named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, which cited her distinguished contributions to science education, particularly gender issues in teacher preparation and in urban schools.

She has also been honored several times by the Association for Science Teacher Education, which recognized her with its 2010 Outstanding Mentor Award and its Outstanding Science Teacher Educator of the Year Award in 2008.

The AERA award will be presented April 29 at the association’s annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas.

AERA is the largest national interdisciplinary research association devoted to the scientific study of education and learning. Founded in 1916, the association advances knowledge about education, encourages scholarly inquiry related to education and promotes the use of research to improve education and serve the public good.