Event Postponed: Andrews Institute conservation education specialist May 1

Fort Worth, TX

4/20/2009

EVENT UPDATE - THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED AND WILL BE POSTPONED TO THE FALL.

The Andrews Institute of Mathematics, Science & Technology Education and TCU’s College of Education will host conservation education specialist Sarah M. Bexell, Ph.D., on Friday, May 1 at 5 p.m. in the Amon G. Carter Lecture Hall, Palko 130. She will speak about the need for conservation education and her work with endangered species.

"Sarah Bexell brings a wonderful understanding of how science education and science research must unite in order to address problems in conservation," said Dr. Molly Weinburgh, director of the Andrews Institute and William L. & Betty F. Adams Chair of Education

Dr. Bexell served as the chief director of the Department of Conservation Education since 2005 at Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Sichuan, China. Currently, she is an education specialist at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center in Lakeland, Colorado. She earned a Ph.D. in early-childhood education focusing on conservation science from Georgia State University, a master of education in science education also from Georgia State, and a master of arts in physical anthropology from Northern Illinois University.

Sarah M. Bexell has been engaged in animal conservation and environmental education for many years, and began to devote herself to these areas in China beginning in 1999. Thanks to her efforts, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and Chengdu Zoo established their own conservation and education departments. She trained a number of full-time workers for conservation and education and edited a five-day camp book for Chinese students. With her suggestions, a series of conservation and educational activities are offered at the Base, such as family package tours, one-day off-campus tour, volunteer service program and the international internship program.

The Andrews Institute of Mathematics, Science & Technology Education was established as a collaborative venture between the College of Education and the College of Science & Engineering to address, among other things, the issues of training and qualifications for both pre-service and in-service teachers in mathematics and the sciences. For more information on the Andrews Institute, visit www.mst.tcu; for more information on the event, call 817-257-7698.