David Rudge

David Rudge is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Western Michigan University (WMU) with a joint appointment in the Mallinson Institute for Science Education. He specializes in integrating history and philosophy of science into science education, particularly focusing on evolutionary biology. He directed a significant National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to enhance middle school science teaching, emphasizing evidence-based pedagogical strategies. His work also involves assessing the impact of historical narratives on student understanding of the nature of science (NOS).

Education: Ph.D., M.S., and M.A. from the University of Pittsburgh, and a B.S. from Duke University. His research bridges science education, history of science, and curriculum development. He served as president of the International History, Philosophy and Science Teaching Group and is a board member of WMU's Center for the Humanities.

Research Interests:

• Using historical case studies (e.g., DNA discovery, industrial melanism) to teach NOS principles
• Adapting science teaching for online environments
• Evaluating the effectiveness of historically grounded curricula
• Ethics and communication in science education

Grant & Professional Work: Led an NSF-funded project to improve middle school science alignment with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). His articles analyze teaching methodologies, textbook portrayals of scientific concepts, and the role of storytelling in science education.

Advising & Grants: Overseeing NSF STEM education initiatives, focusing on teacher professional development and curriculum redesign. No specific student advisees are listed in the provided materials.

Labs/Teams: Affiliated with the Mallinson Institute for Science Education and collaborates with WMU's Center for the Humanities on interdisciplinary projects.