Renee Clary’s principal area of research is geoscience education.  She and LSU Professor Jim Wandersee are co-directors of EarthScholars Research Group (www.EarthScholars.com), whose primary focus is the integration of geological and biological knowledge during science instruction, in formal, online, and informal settings.  EarthScholars’ research includes the incorporation of the history of science to improve science understanding, the improvement of visual geology/biology learning through innovative visualization strategies, and the maximization of geology/biology learning experiences in informal educational settings and at field sites.  Renee regularly presents research findings in both scientific and educational forums in the US and abroad. Additionally, EarthScholars served as instructional leaders for the knowledge integration and mapping workshops at the DRAGON Asia Summit in June 2009.

Renee numbers her past students in thousands, and has taught university geology courses such as Geology and Man, Historical Geology, Earth Science, Dinosaurs, Invertebrate Paleontology, Geochemistry, Geology of North America, and Instrumental Examination of Earth Materials. Renee also stays close to her geological roots by maintaining research programs in geology. Her geological areas of interest include environmental geochemistry and paleontology. In her spare time, she can be found in local Cretaceous outcrops, and is rumored to have a mosasaur in her garage.

Education

Ph.D. Curriculum and Instruction, Geoscience Education; Louisiana State University

M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction, Science Education; University of Louisiana at Lafayette

M.S. Geology; University of Louisiana at Lafayette

B.S. Chemistry; University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Experience

2007-present: Assistant Professor, Mississippi State University, Department of Geosciences

2006: Instructor, Mississippi State University, Department of Geosciences

2005: Northwestern State University, Department of Chemistry and Physics

2004-2005:  Assistant Professor and Director, X-Ray Center; University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Department of Geology

2000-2004: Instructor, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Department of Geology

1999-2003: Geology Instructor, South Louisiana Community College

1998:  Research Assistant, Magnetic Products International

1984-1986: Chemistry and Calculus Instructor, Episcopal School of Acadiana

1983-1984: Chemist, Dow Chemical USA

1982-1983: Chief Laboratory Assistant, Asbestos Research Program

Selected Publications

Clary, R.M., & Wandersee, J.H.(2010). The "green" root beer laboratory. The Science Teacher, 77(2),25-28. [Abstract]

Clary, R.M., & Wandersee, J.H. (2010). Virtual field exercises in the online classroom: Practicing science teachers' perceptions of effectiveness, best practices, and implementation. Journal of College Science Teaching, 39(4), . [Abstract]

Clary, R.M., & Wandersee, J.H. (2010). Scientific caricatures in the Earth Science classroom: An alternative assessment for meaningful science learning. Science and Education. [Abstract]

Clary, R.M., & Wandersee, J.H. (2009). Our polar past: Using the history of polar exploration in the science classroom. The Science Teacher, 76(9), 47-52. [Abstract]

Clary, R.M., (2009). Tried and True: How Old? Tested and Trouble-free Ways to Convey Geologic Time. ScienceScope, 33(4), 62-66. [Abstract]

Clary, R.M., & Wandersee, J.H. (2009). Amber: Use *tree tears turned to stone* to teach biology, ecology . . .and more! ScienceScope, 33(3), 22-29. [Abstract]

Clary, R.M. and Wandersee, J.H. (2009). Can teachers learn in an online environment? Kappa Delta Pi Record, 46(1), 34-38.

Clary, R.M., Brzuszek, R.F., and Wandersee, J.H. (2009). Students' geocognition of Deep Time, conceptualized in an informal educational setting. Journal of Geoscience Education, 57, 275–285. [Full Text]

Clary, R.M., & Wandersee, J.H. (2009). All are worthy to know the Earth: Henry De la Beche and the origin of geological literacy. Science and Education, 18, 1359-1375.

Clary, R.M., & Wandersee, J.H. (2008). Earth science teachers’ perceptions of an autonomous fieldwork assignment in a nationwide online paleontology course. Journal of Geoscience Education, 56, 149-155. 

Clary, R.M., & Wandersee, J.H. (2007). A mixed methods analysis of the effects of an integrative geobiological study of petrified wood in introductory college geology classrooms. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 44 (8), 1011-1035. 

Clary, R.M., & Wandersee, J.H. (2006). A writing template for probing students’ Geological Sense of Place. Science Education Review, 5 (2), 51-59. 

Clary, R.M., & Wandersee, J.H. (2005). Through the looking glass: The history of aquarium views and their potential to improve learning in science classrooms. Science and Education, 14, 579-596. 

Clary, R.M., & Wandersee, J.H. (2007). Great expectations: Florence Bascom  (1842–1945) and the education of the first generation of US women geologists. In C. Burek and B. Higgs (Eds.), The role of women in the history of geology, Bath, England: The Geological Society of London, Special Publications 281. 

Clary, R.M., Wandersee, J.H., & Elias, J.S. (2007). Does the color coding of examination versions affect college science students’ test performance? Countering claims of bias. Journal of College Science Teaching, XXXVII, 40-47.  

Wandersee, J.H., & Clary, R.M. (2007). Learning on the trail:  A content analysis of a university arboretum’s exemplary interpretative science signage system. The American Biology Teacher, 69 (1), 16-23. 

Wandersee, J.H., & Clary, R.M. (2006). Science in the curriculum. In F.W. English (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Educational Leadership. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publishing.                  

Wandersee, J.H., & Clary, R.M. (2006). Fieldwork:  New directions and examples in informal science education research. In J. Mintzes & W. Leonard (Eds.), NSTA handbook of college science teaching: Theory, research, & practice. Arlington, VA: NSTA Press.

Selected Professional Affiliations

American Association for the Advancement of Science

American Educational Research Association

American Geophysical Union

Association for Science Teacher Education

Association for Women Geoscientists

Geological Society of America

Geological Society of London

History of Earth Sciences Society

International Geological Congress (Lifetime Member)

National Association of Biology Teachers

National Association of Geoscience Teachers

National Association for Research in Science Teaching

National Earth Science Teachers Association

National Science Teachers Association

Society for College Science Teachers

Selected Award and Honors

Fellow, Geological Society of London

Research Fellow, Geosystems Research Institute

Richard G. Neiheisel Phi Beta Kappa Endowed Award

Board of Regents Fellowship in Geology

University of Louisiana at Lafayette Outstanding Graduate College of Sciences