CHARACTERISTICS OF PERSONNEL AT GRADUATE SCIENCE EDUCATION CENTERS: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF THE PROFESSION.

The article presents an analytical study that describes the professional quality of the faculty employed at the major programs at graduate science education centers in the U.S. After collecting the biographical and professional data of 168 school teachers, the study observed that the graduate faculty have common aspects as to age, sex, rank, academic training, past experience, research productivity, and professional involvement. Major concerns currently faced in science education include the stability in number of new staff employed at research centers and the multipurpose coverage of most centers. Thus, development projects and strategies were initiated for practice, expecting advantages from research findings as well as continuing dynamism and viability for both individuals and the profession.