News and Headlines : CWU's Palmquist Named Top Professor in Washington

CWU's Palmquist Named Top Professor in Washington

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - Dr. Bruce Palmquist, Central Washington University physics and science education professor, is highly regarded for his commitment to improving public understanding of basic scientific principles and working to develop skills in the next generation of science teachers needed to successfully bring about a scientifically literate society.

For those reasons, along with his dedication to teaching, commitment to students and innovative teaching methods, Palmquist was named Nov. 17 as the 2005 Washington state Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).

In his dual role as a physicist and a teacher educator, Palmquist has taken on many initiatives including developing a new CWU program at Green River Community College in Auburn, called Project TEACH (Teacher Education Alliance for Colleges and High Schools). Project TEACH links K-12, community college and CWU undergraduate programs to create a seamless path for students to follow from high school through higher education and into the teaching profession.

Palmquist is also well known for his "Bubble Planetarium" presentations, during which he teaches community members, most often school children, about astronomy. Making science accessible to children is important to Palmquist.

"You can show kids something through a microscope once, but they won't always have a microscope," Palmquist says. "The nighttime sky is always there for them. So it's good to help them recognize patterns and describe stories told about the night sky."

The portable, fabric dome can seat more than 50 people and projects images of the stars and representations of constellations for his audiences to study. He has also taken on many other initiatives, including writing a weekly newspaper astronomy column and becoming a regular contributor to the Kittitas Environmental Education Network.

In addition, Palmquist serves as a mentor to members of the CWU student astronomy club and helps facilitate public stargazing events at the university's Lind Hall telescope.

"As a faculty member, I'm not only obligated to teach my students, but I think it's important to reach out to the community," Palmquist points out. "It's a way to provide once-in-a-lifetime learning for the community members, age 5 to senior citizens."

Palmquist has also participated in a variety of preservice, inservice and community college teacher mentoring programs. He is active in national efforts to improve teacher preparation in science education.

"Many education students are most afraid of teaching the subject of science," Palmquist said. "They don't realize that science is fun because of the way they are taught in high school and college (where) they hear a lecture, learn big words and memorize equations. But, when I can help them realize science is about exploring and doing experiments, and when they learn that's the way to teach kids, they feel more comfortable."

Palmquist hopes to pass the importance of public service on to his science education students.

"In small towns, it's the teachers who are the intellectual lights of the community," he said. "I want my students to take the knowledge and skills they learn in college and help the community."

Palmquist, 43, earned a bachelor degree in physics, Magna Cum Laude, from Augsburg College, in Minneapolis, in 1984; and two master's degrees, in the history of science, 1990, and physics, 1992, from the University of Minnesota.

He joined the Central faculty in 1993 after completing his Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction (science education) from the University of Minnesota. Palmquist was also named the CWU 2004 Distinguished Public Service Professor.

Contact: Robert Lowery (509-963-1487/fax 509-963-2301/e-mail: loweryr@cwu.edu)

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