The inaugural cohort of NCSE's Sound Science Fellowship met in-person in Greensboro, North Carolina, recently to share ideas, explore emerging challenges, and inspire new possibilities for collective action in evolution and climate change education. Fellows shared updates on their research and programming, which spanned a wide range of topics, including preservice teacher education, working with advanced graduate students in anatomy and physiology, and community outreach. They also brought questions for the group to explore, that ranged in topic from institutional challenges to strategies for addressing misinformation and environmental justice.
The Sound Science Fellowship is a research and service program established by NCSE in 2025 to support professionals and academics committed to improving science education. It provides a space to network, collaborate, and engage with NCSE’s Science Education and Outreach program with the goal of advancing the accurate teaching and learning of climate science, evolution, and the nature of science.
A highlight of the meeting was the session with guest speaker Joseph L. Graves Jr., an evolutionary biologist, author of A Voice in the Wilderness and Racism, Not Race, and a member of NCSE’s board of directors. Graves’s thought-provoking talk about his work on evolutionary biology and race sparked rich discussion among fellows.
Fellows shared that hearing about each others’ research, instructional approaches, and professional challenges sparked new ideas for their own teaching and professional development efforts. They also emphasized the importance of the Sound Science Fellowship program in building community and allowing them to connect with others who share their interests and passion.
One fellow shared:
“It was nice to sit in a space with other individuals who are passionate about teaching ‘controversial subjects’ and have a conversation about their research, teaching strategies, success stories, challenges, etc. This is particularly helpful as someone who is the only science education faculty member at my school. [...] I left our meeting with numerous ideas to implement in my courses and teacher professional development this fall.”
Another fellow stated:
“I felt like everything had some benefit for me. I might not use it all but simply learning more deeply about concepts is good for me as a science educator.”
What’s next? NCSE is excited to expand the Sound Science Fellowship by welcoming a new cohort of leaders in science education and outreach in 2026, including those working in evolution and climate change education and in efforts to combat science misinformation. As the fellowship grows, NCSE remains committed to providing meaningful opportunities for collaboration across diverse contexts, amplifying fellows’ work, and co-creating actionable plans that support accurate, robust, and engaging science education.
Whether you're preparing future science teachers, designing exhibits on evolutionary biology, leading community-based climate initiatives, or creating content that counters pseudoscience, the Sound Science Fellowship provides space to grow your impact alongside a community of peers. Interested? Learn more and apply at: ncse.ngo/sound-science-fellowship.
