Associate Professor Suárez Presents Linguistic Justice in Science Education Research at NARST

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This August, Associate Professor Enrique (Henry) Suárez spoke about his research on linguistic justice in science education during the summer webinar series for the National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST). 

Suárez was featured in the August 12th webinar, "Translanguaging in Different Multilingual Science Education Contexts," organized by NARST’s International Committee. The webinar focused on exploring translanguaging in different global multilingual science education contexts, with three science education researchers presenting on how translanguaging can make science learning more equitable for multilingual students. 

Suárez presented on the theoretical, analytical, and pedagogical benefits of translanguaging for supporting elementary-aged children investigate natural phenomena, as well as how this shapes his work with elementary pre-service teachers at UMass. “It was a great opportunity to share more about the hard work we’ve been doing in our college to prepare more effective and equity-oriented PK-5 teachers, as well as learn how colleagues in other settings focus on languaging as a dimension of justice in science education,” said Suárez. "While the focus on bi-/multilingual students is not new in science education, this was the first time NARST has sponsored an event on translanguaging in science education, which would’ve been a pipe dream when I started well over a decade ago.”