Margaret Blanchard

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Bio

Dr. Margaret Blanchard is an Alumni Distinguished Graduate Professor,  Science Education and a University Faculty Scholar in the Department of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education at NC State University. Meg earned her doctorate at Florida State University and has conducted teacher professional development and research in FL and NC, serving as PI or Co-PI on over $21.2 million in grant funds from the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, The Department of Energy, Burroughs Wellcome Fund, and the BelleJAR Foundation. She has published in such journals as Science Education, the Journal of Research in Science Teaching, Educational Researcher, the International Journal of Science Education, Research in Science Education, and also in practitioner journals of the National Science Teacher Association. She was a Provost Fellow for 2020-2022 and was the recipient of the 2013 Alumni Association Outstanding Extension and Outreach Award for NC State University in Raleigh, N.C.

Recent Scholarly Publications

• Google Scholar
• . Collier, K. M., & Blanchard, M. R. (2024). Graduate student resilience: Exploring influential success factors in U.S. graduate education through survey analysis. Trends in Higher Education, 3(3), 637-680. https://doi.org/10.3390/higheredu3030037
• McAlexander, S. L., Blanchard, M. R., & Venditti, R. A. (2024). Transfer students’ perceptions of science and engineering internships. Sustainability, 16, 6429. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16156429
• Collier, K. M.*, & Blanchard, M. R. (2024). Historically underrepresented graduate students’ experiences at a U.S. majority serving institution: A narrative analysis. International Journal of Doctoral Studies, 19, 001. https://doi.org/10.28945/5243
• Blanchard, M. R., Gutierrez, K. S., Swanson, K. J. & Collier, K. M.* (2023). Why do students attend STEM clubs, what do they get out of it, and where are they heading? Education Sciences, 13(5), 480. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13050480
• McCance, K. R., & Blanchard, M. R. (2023). Measuring the interdisciplinarity and collaboration perceptions of U.S. scientists, engineers, and educators: A validation study. AERA Open. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor] https://doi.org/10.3886/E195046V1
• Collier, K. M.*, & Blanchard, M. R. (2023). Investigating graduate students’ experiences through structural equation modeling (SEM). Trends in Higher Education, 2(4), 718-746. https://doi.org/10.3390/higheredu2040042
• Swanson, K. J.*, Blanchard, M. R., & Gutierrez, K. S. (2023). “We’re All Like One Big Family”: How Teacher-Coaches’ After-School PLC’s Influence STEM Club Success. Learning, Culture and Social Interaction, 42
• Collier, K. M.*, & Blanchard, M. R. (2023). Toward a holistic understanding of factors that support or inhibit graduate student success. Trends in Higher Education, 2(3), 389-408.  https://doi.org/10.3390/higheredu2030023
• McCance, K. R., Teeter, S. D., Blanchard, M. R., & Venditti, R. A. (2023). Using activity theory to understand the interactions of a university interdisciplinary team of scientists and science educators. Studies in Higher Education. 48(6), 829-909. 
• Swanson, K. J., Painter, J. L., Blanchard, M. R. & Gervase^, K. D. (2023). Why Olympiad: Investigating the motivations and benefits of coaching elementary Science Olympiad. Journal of Science Teacher Education, 34(1), 63-85. https://doi.org/10.1080/1046560X.2021.2024690
• Gray, K. M., Blanchard, M. R. & LePrevost, C. E. (2023). Educator beliefs and organizational constraints: Factors that influence informal education about fish consumption advisories in a southeastern US state. Sustainable Environment, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/27658511.2023.2259716  
• McCance, K. M., Topliceanu, A., Echeverria, D., McAlexander, S., Blanchard, M., & Venditti, R. (2023) Fluffy, fluffier, and fluffiest: Creating and testing biodegradable starch packing peanuts. Journal of Chemical Education. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.3c00510
• Collier, K. M., McCance, K. R., Jackson, S., Topliceanu, A., Blanchard, M. R., & Venditti, R. A. (2023). Observing microplastics in the environment through citizen-science-inspired laboratory investigations. Journal of Chemical Education, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.2c01078
• Blanchard, M. R., Gutierrez, K. S., & Swanson, K. J. (2022). Professional development to prepare teacher-coaches for students from culturally diverse groups in after-school STEM clubs. In M. Atwater (Ed.), International handbook of research on multicultural science education. Springer Publishing: New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37743-4_36-2
• Gutierrez, K. S. Blanchard M. R., & Busch, K. C. (2022). What effective design strategies do rural, underserved students in STEM clubs value while learning about climate change? Environmental Education Research.
• McAlexander, S. L., McCance, K. R., Blanchard, M. R., and Venditti, R. A. (2022). Investigating the experiences, beliefs, and career intentions of historically underrepresented science and engineering undergraduates engaged in an academic and internship program. Sustainability, 14(3). https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031486 
• Blanchard, M. R., Venditti, R. A., McAlexander, S. L., McCance, K. R., & Collier, K. M. (2021). An interdisciplinary model to diversify STEM participation: College, high school, & industry partnerships. In D. Farland-Smith (Ed.), Handbook of research on student, scientist, & teacher partnerships (pp. 95-132). IGI Global. DOI 10.4018/978-1-7998-4966-7.ch007
• McCance, K. R., Suarez, A., McAlexander, S. L., Davis, G., Blanchard, M. R., Venditti, R. A. (2021). Modeling a biorefinery: Converting pineapple to bioproducts and biofuel. Journal of Chemical Education, 98 (6), 2047-2054. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.1c00020
• McAlexander, S. L., Noble, S. M., McCance, K., Blanchard, M. R., & Venditti, R. (2021). Measuring undergraduate students’ beliefs about and career interest in bioproducts and bioenergy, BioResources 16(3), 5679-5693.
• Kier, M. W. & Blanchard, M. R. (2021). Eliciting middle school students’ voices through STEM career explorations. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 19, 151-169. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-019-10042-z
• Blanchard, M. R., Gutierrez, K. S., Habig, B., Gupta, P., & Adams, J. (2020). Informal STEM education. In C. Johnson, M., Mohr-Schroeder, T. Moore, & L. English (Eds.), Handbook of Research on STEM Education. Routledge/Taylor & Francis.

Courses Taught

• Undergraduate: EMS 203 Introduction to Teaching Science, EMS 375 Methods of Teaching Science I, EMS 475 Methods of Teaching Science II, EMS 476 Student Teaching in Science; have supervised 34 student teachers, EMS 495 Senior Seminar in Science Education
• Masters: EMS 501 Readings I in Science Education, EMS 521 Advanced Methods I in Science Education; synchronous/online, EMS 522 Advanced Methods II in Science Education; synchronous/online, EMS 531 Research Methods in Science Education; synchronous/online, EMS 573 Tech Tools for Science Teaching; synchronous/online, EMS 575 Foundations in Science Education (Master’s)
• Doctoral: EMS 730 Trends and Issues in Science Education, EMS 731 Fundamentals of Research in Science Education, EMS 732 Theoretical and Critical Perspectives of Science Education, EMS 775 Foundations in Science Education, EMS 802 Seminar in Mathematics Education, EMS 803 Seminar in Science Education, EMS 832 Research Applications in Science Education, EMS 851 Research Internship in Science Education; 16 doctoral students Mentored, ED 730 Introduction to Qualitative Research in Education, ED 731 Advanced Qualitative Research and Data Analysis in Education

Honors and Awards

• 2023 Alumni Distinguished Graduate Professor, NC State University
• 2022-2023 Faculty LEAD program, NC State University
• 2021-2022 ACC Leadership Fellow
• 2020-2022 Provost Fellow, NC State University
• UNC Bridges Academic Leadership program participant, UNC Chapel Hill, Fall 2019
• University Faculty Scholar, NC State University, 2016-Present.
• 2013 – Alumni Association Outstanding Extension and Outreach Award, NC State University.
• 2013 – Outstanding Extension and Engagement Award, College of Education, NC State University.
• 2013 – Inducted into the Academy of Outstanding Faculty in Extension and Engagement, NC State University.

Editorial Boards

• Science Education, 2016-2021
• Journal of STEM Education 2016-2021

Services and Engagements

• Blanchard currently serves as Co-Principal Investigator for the Deep Eutectic Solvent Pulping Technology to Reduce Carbon Emission in Pulp and Paper Industry (2024-2027, Funded). Department of Energy/Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE), $2,600,000/3 years.
• Blanchard currently serves as Co-Principal Investigator for Sargassum and Hurricane Waste Biomass for Aviation Fuel and Graphite (SWAG) (2022-2025, Funded). Department of Energy/Waste Feedstocks Research, $2,250,000/3 years.
• Blanchard currently serves as Co-Principal Investigator for FMRG: Eco: Future Eco Manufacturing of Recyclable Soft Electronics (2022-2025, Funded). NSF Future Manufacturing, $2,998,710/4 years.
• Blanchard currently serves as Co-Principal Investigator for Collaborative Research: FuSe: Polymer SWIR Photodiodes for Focal Plane Arrays (FuSe). (2023-2026, Funded). National Science Foundation (NSF). $1,476,000/3 years.
• Blanchard currently serves as Co-Director for Interdisciplinary Doctoral Education Program in Renewable Polymers from Forest Resources to Replace Plastics (2021-2024, Funded). USDA, National Needs Graduate Fellowships Program, $238,500/3 years.
• Blanchard served as Co-Principal Investigator and Educational Researcher for Preparing Diverse and Rural Students and Teachers to Meet the Challenges in the Bioenergy and Bioproducts Industry.  (2017-2023, Funded). USDA, $2,750,000/5 years.
• Blanchard served as Project Director for Sustaining STEM Career Clubs in Rural North Carolina. (2018-2023, Funded). Burroughs Wellcome Fund, Student Science Enrichment Program.  $179,061/5 years.
• Blanchard served as Co-Principal Investigator and Lead Researcher for STEM Career Clubs: Enhancing the potential of underrepresented students in STEM careers through a Strategic Teaming Model. (2014-2018, Funded). National Science Foundation, $1,199,625/4 years.
• Blanchard served as Principal Investigator of STEM Teams: Promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) career interest, skills, and knowledge through Strategic Teaming. (2010-2014, Funded). ITEST Strategies, National Science Foundation, $1,199,963.00/4 years.
• Blanchard served as Co-Director for The Modeling Project: Enhancing Biology and Physical Science Instruction. (2014-2017). Math & Science Partnership Grant, Department of Public Instruction, NC, $ 1,468,518.00/3 years.

Area(s) of Expertise

Dr. Blanchard designs and studies teacher professional development projects, with a goal of enhancing students’ STEM learning experiences and stimulating career interest. Her work has focused mostly on teachers, students, leaders, and families in rural North Carolina. Five current projects involve a two NSF grants and three Dept. of Energy grants focused on Biomanufacturing, Biofuels, development of imagine technologies, and related STEM career pathways. A recent USDA project (2018-2023) used online courses, summer internships for community college students, and hands-on classroom experiences to try to diversify the workforce in bioproducts and bioenergy fields. Projects involve high school students meeting graduate student researchers, exploring sustainability careers, taking campus field trips and undergraduates gaining laboratory and mentoring experiences .