Professor Carla Johnson Elected Co-chair of AERA Science Teaching and Learning Special Interest Group

Carla Johnson, a professor of science education in the NC State College of Education, has been elected program co-chair of the American Education Research Association (AERA) Science Teaching and Learning Special Interest Group (SIG).

The Science Teaching and Learning SIG includes discipline specialists, curriculum developers, educational researchers, classroom experts and policymakers concerned with research on science teaching and learning. The group intends to provide a platform to engage education stakeholders in analyzing and deepening the discourse in science and related disciplines with the goal of influencing education inside and outside the classroom. 

Johnson will serve as program co-chair for a one year term, followed by a one-year term as program chair and a one-year term as chair.

“I am looking forward to getting more involved in the leadership of our Science Teaching and Learning SIG with AERA. I have been a presenter at AERA for more than a decade and have published my research recently in two of their journals. I believe serving in this role will help support our college’s research mission, and it will provide me the opportunity to represent NC State with the top U.S. educational research association,” Johnson said. 

Throughout her career, Johnson has authored or co-authored more than 300 journal articles, books, book chapters and reports, including completing more than 30 books for the STEM Road Map project in partnership with the National Science Teachers Association. She also led the development of the first-ever Handbook of Research on STEM Education, which was published in 2020.

She has served as the principal investigator or co-principal investigator on grants and contracts totaling more than $70 million, including a $6 million grant to establish the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Academy to support 5,000 workers with training, college coursework and certification to work in the AI field. 

Through her new role as program co-chair of the Science Teaching and Learning SIG, she hopes to build on her experience by making new research connections and collaborating with other faculty and students engaged in work related to science education.

“I hope that through my work, I am able to support the Science Teaching and Learning SIG to continue to serve as an avenue for the research of individuals in my field of study,” she said.