Dr. Elizabeth Barnes
Assistant Professor of Biology Education
Departments / Programs
Degree Information
- PHD, Arizona State University (2018)
- MS, Arizona State University (2014)
- BS, Arizona State University (2013)
Areas of Expertise
Science Education, Biology Education Research, History and Philosophy of Science
Biography
I became interested in studying social perceptions of science as an undergraduate biology major and became fascinated by the social psychology underlying rejection and acceptance of scientific information. As a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow, I earned my Ph.D. in Biology Education Research from Arizona State University studying how to reduce tension between religion and evolution. I now run the Social Perceptions of Science lab at Middle Tennessee State University.
Publications
Barnes, M.E., Maas, S.A., Roberts, J.A. Brownell, S.E. (2021). Christianity as a Concealable Stigmatized Identity (CSI) among Biology Graduate Students. CBE—Life Sciences Education, 20(1), ar9.
Barnes, M. E., Supriya, K., Dunlop, H. M., Hendrix, T. M., Sinatra, G...
Read More »Barnes, M.E., Maas, S.A., Roberts, J.A. Brownell, S.E. (2021). Christianity as a Concealable Stigmatized Identity (CSI) among Biology Graduate Students. CBE—Life Sciences Education, 20(1), ar9.
Barnes, M. E., Supriya, K., Dunlop, H. M., Hendrix, T. M., Sinatra, G. M., & Brownell, S. E. (2020). Relationships between the Religious Backgrounds and Evolution Acceptance of Black and Hispanic Biology Students. CBE—Life Sciences Education, 19(4), ar59. https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.19-10-0197.
Barnes, M. E., Werner, R., Brownell, S.E. (2020). Differential impacts of a culturally competent genetics curriculum on student perceptions of conflict between religion and evolution at an evangelical Christian university. The American Biology Teacher. https://f328e7ed-ae78-427b-9dac-2a65f1920a7d.filesusr.com/ugd/98a1a0_da4a7c2ba7014729a2016b3a00c1f2ef.pdf.
Barnes, M. E., Dunlop, H. M., Sinatra, G. M., Hendrix, T. M., Zheng, Y., & Brownell, S. E. (2020). “Accepting Evolution Means You Can’t Believe in God”: Atheistic Perceptions of Evolution among College Biology Students. CBE—Life Sciences Education, 19(2), ar21. https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.19-05-0106
Barnes, M.E., Truong, J.M., Grunspan, D.Z., Brownell, S.E. (2020). Are scientists biased against Christians? Exploring real and perceived Christian bias in academic biology. PLoS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0226826
Dunk, R. D., Barnes, M. E., Reiss, M. J., Alters, B., Asghar, A., Carter, B. E., ... & Mead, L. S. (2019). Evolution education is a complex landscape. Nature ecology & evolution, 3(3), 327. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-019-0802-9.
Barnes, M.E., *Dunlop, H.M., Holt, E., Brownell, S.E., (2019). Different Instruments used to Measure Acceptance of Evolution Leads to Different Research Findings. Evolution: Education and Outreach, 12(1), https://doi.org/10.1186/s12052-019-0096-z.
Barnes, M.E., & Brownell, S.E. (2018). A Call to Use Cultural Competence When Teaching Evolution to Religious College Students: Introducing Religious Cultural Competence in Evolution Education (ReCCEE). CBE-Life Sciences Education, 16 (4). https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.17-04-0062.
Barnes, M.E., Truong, J.M., Brownell, S.E (2018). Can Six Minutes of Culturally Competent Evolution Education Reduce Students’ Level of Perceived Conflict between Evolution and Religion? The American Biology Teacher, 80(2), 106-115. (^these authors contributed equally) https://doi.org/10.1525/abt.2018.80.2.106.
Grunspan, D. Z., Nesse, R. M., Barnes, M. E., & Brownell, S.E. (2017). Core principles of evolutionary medicine: a Delphi study. Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health, 2018 (1), 13-23. https://doi.org/10.1093/emph/eox025.
Barnes, M. E., & Brownell, S. E. (2017). Experiences and Practices of Evolution Instructors at Christian Universities that can Inform Culturally Competent Evolution Education. Science Education, 101(6), 1-24. https://doi.org/10.1002/sce.21317.
Barnes, M. E., Evans, E. M., Hazel, A., Brownell, S. E., & Nesse, R. M. (2017). Teleological Reasoning, not Acceptance of Evolution, Impacts Students’ Ability to Learn Natural Selection. Evolution: Education and Outreach, 10(7). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12052-017-0070-6.
Barnes, M. E., Elser, J., & Brownell, S. E. (2017). Impact of a Short Evolution Module on Students' Perceived Conflict between Religion and Evolution. The American Biology Teacher, 79(2), 104-111. https://doi.org/10.1525/abt.2017.79.2.104.
Barnes, M. E., Truong, J. M., & Brownell, S. E. (2017). Experiences of Judeo-Christian Students in Undergraduate Biology. CBE-Life Sciences Education, 16(1), 15. https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.16-04-015
Barnes, M. E., & Brownell, S. E. (2016). Practices and Perspectives of College Instructors on Addressing Religious Beliefs When Teaching Evolution. CBE-Life Sciences Education, 15(2), 18. https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.15-11-0243.
Awards
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Award (NSF GRFP), 2015 - 2020
Graduate Excellence Award, Arizona State University, 2015, 2017, and 2018
Arizona State University Faculty Women’s Association Distinguished Graduate Student Award, 2018
Arizona State University Graduate & Professional Student Association Outstanding Mentor Award, 2017
Research / Scholarly Activity
In the Social Perceptions of Science Lab, we study how to improve science education about socio-scientific topics. Our research has focused on religious perceptions of evolution and we have studied how to make evolution education more inclusive for students from different backgrounds. We are now excited to be embarking on projects exploring political perceptions of climate change and COVID19 education. Since our research team needs good surveys to do our research, we also study how to improve survey methodology in evolution education studies.
In the Media
American Association of the Advancement of Science Interview: https://www.aaas.org/sites/default/files/2021-02/Barnes.pdf
Read More »American Association of the Advancement of Science Interview: https://www.aaas.org/sites/default/files/2021-02/Barnes.pdf
AAAS talk coverage: https://undark.org/2017/02/23/scientists-work-trust-issues/
Courses
BIOL 1110 - General Biology I
