Welcome to the Center for STEM Education

The Center for STEM Education at The University of Texas at Austin is a research, teaching, and service unit located in the College of Education. In 1958, Dr. Addison E. Lee, biology educator, established the Center (Science Education Center) at The University of Texas. The Center's name was changed to the Center for STEM Education in 2011 to reflect the interdisciplinary nature of programs and activities of the Center. Dr. James P. Barufaldi, Ruben E. Hinojosa Regents Professor and Distinguished University Teaching Professor has served as director of the Center since 1980.

The goal of the Center is to support activities that enhance P-16 teaching and learning of science and mathematics. These activities are data-driven and informed by research conducted at the Center, State, National, and the International levels. Currently, research studies sponsored by the Center focus on the effects of professional development programs related to teacher empowerment, the effects of various professional development configurations on student achievement in science, the effects of teachers enrolled in the Texas Regional Collaboratives for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching on student achievement and teacher performance, and the implementation of elementary school programs in science and mathematics education. The Center attracts substantial funding to support research of faculty and staff related to professional development and other STEM activities. Faculty members at the Center are involved in the undergraduate program in elementary teacher education, the UTeach secondary teacher preparation program in science and mathematics education, and the interdisciplinary graduate program in STEM education. In addition, new avenues are being pursued to enhance our collaborative efforts with research institutions in Mexico.

The Center is also committed to service and outreach. Two major outreach projects are headquartered at Center, the Chautauqua Faculty Development Program-Short Courses for College Teachers and the Texas Regional Collaboratives for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching. The Center strives to seek both human and financial resources necessary to fulfill its goal.