Wartburg College’s Michael Bechtel was one of seven educators selected to serve in the first cohort of the National Center for Science Education’s Sound Science Fellowship program.

During his two-year term, Bechtel will help the NCSE develop new approaches to resolving misconceptions about topics that are seen as controversial to the public and conduct research to develop best practices for teaching and learning.

“Over my time as an educator, I have become keenly aware of the scientific understanding desert that has been filled with social media memes and anti-science rhetoric,” said Bechtel, an associate science education professor. “I believe the only way these difficult topics can be addressed is through facts, open dialogue, questions and understanding the learner.”

Prior to coming to Wartburg in 2013, Bechtel was a high school science teacher for 19 years in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. As a new educator, he was asked to remove the evolution content from his curriculum to appease community members. He not only defended his curriculum to administrators but invited potential detractors to observe his lessons.

Bechtel, who grew up in Iowa and has a special interest in agriculture, also has worked with farmers to help them better understand the impact of climate change on their crops.

“I have to learn what is changing in their fields to help them understand what climate change means,” he said. “Increased sea levels, warmer temperatures and redirected air flow don’t mean much in a landlocked state. But they can understand when we talk about how the increased intensity of storms means the partial, or complete, loss of a harvest. These conversations, directed at what the learner understands, can get people to comprehend the importance of action, whether there is a consensus of cause.”

Now, he teaches the next generation of educators in physics, chemistry, biology and teaching methods so that he can make a larger impact on the world of science education.

“My position as a high school teacher limited the number of students I could reach. Now, the ideas, lessons and experiences I share with my preservice students have a ripple effect on the entire system as they go forward into their future classrooms. I hope my work through this fellowship can do the same.”

Bechtel joins educators from the University of North Carolina, Wake Forest University, Marist College, California State University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Kennesaw State University.

“We are thrilled to welcome this exceptional group of scholars into the Sound Science

Fellowship,” said NCSE Executive Director Amanda L. Townley. “These fellows are passionate about inspiring the next generation of scientifically literate citizens, and through this fellowship, they will have opportunities to inform, support and expand our understanding and approaches to address challenges to the teaching and learning of topics such as evolution and climate science.”

NCSE is a national nonprofit that focuses on monitoring anti-science legislation for K-12 education to initiate action to prevent those moves. The Sound Science Fellowship is a partnership between the NCSE and higher education faculty or museum educators who share the nonprofit’s mission and vision. It is designed to address the ongoing challenges faced by teachers as they navigate issues such as scientific misinformation, evolving educational standards and societal resistance to critical scientific topics.