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. In 2022, I was awarded a NSF CAREER grant to study science communication education and develop instructional frameworks for how to teach communication about culturally controversial science topics to undergraduate science students. My research has been highlighted in popular news outlets such as BBC radio, NPR, and Scientific American.

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Recent Publications

2024

34. Mohammed, T. F., *Aini, R. Q., #Barnes, M. E., & #Cooper, K. M. (2024). Toward Culturally Responsive Mentoring of Muslim Research Mentees in the Sciences. CBE—Life Sciences Education, 23(3), es5. https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.23-07-0145

33. Morra, C. N., Adkins, S. J., Barnes, M. E., Pirlo, O. J., Fleming, R., Convers, B. J., Glass, S. P., Howell, M. L., & Raut, S. A. (2024). Non-STEM majors COVID-19 vaccine impressions improve, and misconceptions resolve, after podcast assignment. Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education, 0(0), e00034-23. https://doi.org/10.1128/jmbe.00034-23

32. Barnes, M. E., *Aini, R. Q., Collins, J. P., Dunk, R. D. P., Holt, E. A., Jensen, J., Klein, J. R., *Misheva, T., Nadelson, L. S., Reiss, M. J., Romine, W. L., Shtulman, A., Townley, A. L., Wiles, J. R., Zheng, Y., & Brownell, S. E. (2024). Evaluating the current state of evolution acceptance instruments: A research coordination network meeting report. Evolution: Education and Outreach, 17(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12052-024-00194-0

31. *Edwards, B. A., *Bowen, C., #Brownell, S. E., & #Barnes, M. E. (2024). Christian Student Experiences During Peer Interactions in Undergraduate Biology Courses. CBE—Life Sciences Education, 23(1), ar7. https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.23-01-0020

2023

30. Bowen, C., *Summersill, A., Google, A., *Aadnes, M., & Barnes, M.E. (2023). Exploring Black Undergraduate Students’ Communication and Biology Education Experiences about COVID-19 and COVID-19 Vaccines During the Pandemic. CBE—Life Sciences Education, 22(4), ar42. https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.22-11-0233

29. Google, A., *Bowen, C., Brownell, S., & Barnes, M. E. (2023). Isolation, resilience, and faith: Experiences of Black Christian students in biology graduate programs. Journal of Research in Science Teaching. https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.21898

28. Misheva, T., Brownell, S. E., & Barnes, M. E. (2023). “It’s More Of A Me-Thing Than An Evolution Thing”: Exploring The Validity Of Evolution Acceptance Measures Using Student Interviews. CBE—Life Sciences Education, 22(4), ar41. https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.23-01-0022

27. Soneral, P. A. G., Brownell, S. E., & Barnes, M. E. (2023). Analysis of Religious Bias among Christian Students in Science. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion. https://doi.org/10.1111/jssr.12825

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MTSU Early Career Research Award, 2024

MTSU Outstanding Teaching in General Education, 2024

National Science Foundation CAREER award, 2023

National Association of Biology Teachers, Evolution Education Award, 2020

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

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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 perceptions of climate change and vaccine education and how to teach undergraduate science students effective communication about these culturally controversial science topics. Since our research team needs good surveys to do our research, we also study how to improve survey methodology in evolution education studies.

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American Association of the Advancement of Science Interview: https://www.aaas.org/sites/default/files/2021-02/Barnes.pdf

Scientific American Research Feature: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/dissent-with-modification-soothing-evolution-religion-tensions-in-the-classroom1/

ASU highlight: https://asunow.asu.edu/20180429-overcoming-odds-graduate-earns-doctorate-real-life-cinderella-story

Interview contributor: https://tonic.vice.com/en_us/article/a3d35a/how-to-sway-a-climate-change-skeptic

AAAS talk coverage: https://undark.org/2017/02/23/scientists-work-trust-issues/

ASU Now Feature: https://asunow.asu.edu/20160518-evolution-and-religion-new-insight-instructor-attitudes-arizona

ASU Now Feature #2: https://asunow.asu.edu/20170327-evolution-and-religion-finding-middle-ground-biology-classroom

Times Higher Ed Feature: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/us-biologists-biased-against-evangelical-students-says-study

Science 2.0 write up: http://www.science20.com/news_articles/evolution_and_religion_new_insight_into_instructor_attitudes_in_arizona-173150

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