Bruce Palmquist

Educational Background

Research Interests

• Mentor planetarium interns, develop and co-develop planetarium shows, present planetarium shows on and off campus.
• Write case studies for use in class to help students learn science content, methods, and interdisciplinary connections.
• Communicate astronomy to a broad audience through a weekly Column in the Daily Record newspaper (Ellensburg, WA) and blog called "What's up in the Ellensburg, Washington Sky

Awards

2025 Multimodal Learning Faculty Innovator of the Year

2019 College of the Sciences Faculty/Staff Member of the Year

2009 Professional Education Advisory Board (PEAB) Crystal Apple award for outstanding teacher educator.

2005 Washington Professor of the Year, Awarded by the Carnegie Foundation and Council for Advancement and Support of Education

2004 Central Washington University Distinguished Professor - Public Service

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. It's a way to provide once-in-a-lifetime learning for the community members, age 5 to senior citizens.

Teaching

Recently taught coursesIntroductory Astronomy (PHYS 101)

• Introductory Physics (PHYS 111/112/113)
• Physical & Biological Systems II: Astronomy & Mythology (DHC 280)
• History of Science: Issues in Science and Religion (DHC 380)
• Classroom Interactions I (STP 304)
• Classroom Interactions II (STP 405)
• Functions and modeling for STEM Teaching (STP 307A)
• Perspectives on Science, Mathematics, and STEM Education (STP 308)

Other teaching-related activities

• College in the High School Physics Department Liaison
• ESCALA Educational Services Faculty Mentor

Publications

Recent Peer Reviewed Publications

Palmquist, Bruce (in press). Communicating Possible Life on Mars: Ethical Considerations [Case Study]. Richmond, VA: National Science Teachers Association.

Palmquist, Bruce (2025). Cosmic Conversations: Bridging Science and Religion with an Age of the Universe Debate [Case Study]. Richmond, VA: National Science Teachers Association. https://www.nsta.org/ncss-case-study/cosmic-conversations.

Gardner, Kendra, Palmquist, Bruce, and Haddick, Grace (2025). Mission to Mars: Orbital Energetics. [Case Study] Richmond, VA: National Science Teachers Association. https://www.nsta.org/ncss-case-study/mission-mars.

Palmquist, Bruce and Rivard, Megan (2022). Moons or Rings: Stellar Occultations and Chariklo the Centaur. [Case study] Buffalo, NY: National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science, University of Buffalo, State University of New York. https://www.nsta.org/ncss-case-study/moons-or-rings

Strauss, Ryder H, Leiva, Rodrigo, Keller, John M, …, Palmquist, Bruce C, … Yang, Yuehai. (2021). The Sizes and Albedos of Centaurs 2014 YY49 and 2013 NL24 from Stellar Occultation Measurements by RECON. The Planetary Science Journal, 2(1), 22. https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/abd62a

Buie, Marc W, Leiva, Rodrigo, Keller, John M, … Palmquist, Bruce C, … Wise, J. A. (2020). A Single-chord Stellar Occultation by the Extreme Trans-Neptunian Object (541132) Leleākūhonua. The Astronomical Journal, 159(5), 230. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/ab8630

Yu, Yizhen, Oyuntugs, Tseveldorj, Palmquist, Bruce (2020). Evaluation and Analysis of Physics Teaching in American High Schools from the Perspective of STEM: Taking the “Cardboard Boat Competition” as an Example. Physics Teaching. Issue 5.

Palmquist, Bruce and Jackson, Michael (2015). Strengthening a physics teacher preparation program using key findings from the SPIN-UP report. In Recruiting and Educating Future Physics Teachers: Case Studies and Effective Practices, edited by Cody Sandifer and Eric Brewe. College Park, MD: American Physical Society, pages 187-197.

Palmquist, Bruce (2015). The Itsy-Bitsy Spider. [Case study] Buffalo, NY: National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science, University of Buffalo, State University of New York. https://www.nsta.org/ncss-case-study/itsy-bitsy-spider

Palmquist, Bruce (2014). Sorting Trash with Static Electricity. [Case study] Buffalo, NY: National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science, University of Buffalo, State University of New York. https://www.nsta.org/ncss-case-study/sorting-trash-static-electricity