The Science Learning Research Group (SLRG) is located within the College of Education, Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology, University of Maryland, College Park, with a satellite location at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. SLRG is a research team that seeks to contribute toward a more scientifically literate and civically-minded society, one better able to mitigate and adapt to the scientific issues of social relevance (e.g., the climate crisis).

SLRG develops and applies learning and teaching theories related to the development of scientific and critical thinking and knowledge construction. We design and test teaching tools and strategies to support science and civics learning. Much of our research is situated within the context of formal classroom settings at the elementary, middle, high, and undergraduate levels.

We are guided by the notion that all researchers and educators can and need to help strengthen peoples’ disciplinary and learning agency through scientific thinking and civically-minded reasoning. In doing so, we can facilitate democratic and pragmatic solutions toward local, regional, and global sustainability and vitality.

The Group is co-directed by Dr. Doug Lombardi at University of Maryland, College Park, and Dr. Janelle M. Bailey at Temple University.