Stephanie Bestelmeyer

Stephanie Bestelmeyer

Title & Affiliation(s):

  • Executive Director, Asombro Institute for Science Education
  • Education Coordinator, Jornada Basin LTER

Primary Research Interests:

  • animal behavior, environmental science education, K-12 education, teacher professional development

Selected Publications:

  • Bestelmeyer S, Grace E, Haan-Amato S, Pemberton R, Havstad K. 2018. Broadening the impact of K-12 science education collaborations in a shifting education landscape. BioScience. 68: 706-714.
  • Forster M, Bestelmeyer S, Baez-Rodriguez N, Berkowitz A, Caplan B, Esposito R, Grace E, McGee S. 2018. Data Jams: promoting data literacy and science engagement while encouraging creativity. The Science Teacher. 86: 48-53.
  • Bestelmeyer S, Elser MM, Spellman KV, Sparrow EB, Haan-Amato SS, Keener A. 2015. Collaboration, interdisciplinary thinking, and communication: new approaches to K-12 ecology education. Front Ecol Environ. 13: 37-43.
  • Bestelmeyer S. 2015. Glimpse of the Chihuahuan Desert: Interdisciplinary, Bilingual Science Unit for 4th and 5th Grades. Asombro Institute for Science Education, Las Cruces, New Mexico.
  • Launchbaugh K, Bestelmeyer S, Hyde G. 2012. Rangelands in the classroom: Increasing rangeland understanding of students and teachers. Rangelands. 34: 49-52.

Synergistic Activities:

  • Coordinator: Jornada Basin Schoolyard Long-Term Ecological Research Program for approximately 20,000 K-12 students per year
  • Member: LTER Education and Outreach Committee with colleagues from all LTER sites
  • Developer: middle and high school curriculum units to USDA Southwest Climate Hub
  • Co-founder: Take It Outdoors, New Mexico, a collaboration of agencies, nonprofits, health organizations, and schools dedicated to educational outdoor experiences to for children