UB’s Doran Receives National Teaching Award

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The 30-year career of UB faculty member Rodney L. Doran, Ph.D., which has been dedicated to teaching teachers innovative techniques to "turn students on" to the wonders and mysteries of science, has earned the educator a national teaching award.

Doran, professor of learning and instruction in the UB Graduate School of Education, received the Distinguished Service to Science Education Citation from the National Science Teachers Association at its conference held last month in Orlando.

His research involves expanding and improving assessment options and formulating new approaches for science teachers.

Doran is a recipient of the State University of New York Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Service Award from the New York Science Mentor Network and an Outstanding Service Award to Science Education by the New York State Science Supervisors Association. He also has been named Outstanding Science Educator by the Association of Education for Teachers in Science.

Doran, who joined the UB faculty in 1969, received a doctorate in science education from the University of Wisconsin. He previously had taught science at the high-school level in Minnesota.

Each spring, Doran works with UB and area science teachers and local community-based scientists to draw more than 1,000 students to an annual "show and tell" Science Exploration Day held on the UB North Campus.

He also coordinates the popular and competitive summer Science Research Institute (SRI), where local high-school students who are interested in science careers are taught the tools, methods and techniques of conducting research projects by UB faculty mentors.

Doran is a resident of Snyder.