Spencer Eusden, a doctoral student in Education: Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education & Human Development at the University of Nevada, Reno, has been selected as one of only 30 doctoral students worldwide to participate in the 2025 Abell Institute, hosted by NARST: A Global Organization for Improving Science Education through Research. In addition, Li Ke, Ph.D., assistant professor of elementary education, has been chosen as one of seven mentors globally who will guide and support participants throughout the institute.

The Abell Institute is a highly competitive program that brings together early career researchers dedicated to equity-driven and impactful science education. Eusden’s selection recognizes not only his scholarly potential but also his deep commitment to integrating real-world challenges, such as climate change and environmental justice, into science learning.

“I am very grateful to be attending the 2025 Abell Institute,” Eusden said. “Many of the issues that the other doctoral student attendees and I are working on do not have simple or easy solutions. The opportunity to work with other highly experienced mentors and form connections with other early career peers is critical for helping to address these types of issues on a broader scale.”

In addition to being a doctoral student, Eusden works Extension’s Living With Fire Program, part of the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources, where he has spent the past four years collaborating with teachers to codevelop science curricula focused on environmental issues.

Eusden’s dissertation explores how phenomena such as wildfire can be used to support effective and just science education in K-12 classrooms. It includes a multiphase study: analyzing existing wildfire-themed curricula through a justice lens, examining their alignment with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and conducting a qualitative case study on the development of a social justice-oriented curriculum with Nevada teachers. He presented findings from the NGSS curriculum study at the 2025 National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST) Annual Conference.

Eusden also coleads, with Ke, the development of a middle school curriculum that incorporates data storytelling and social justice practices, currently being piloted in Nevada classrooms. The work is supported by Ke’s NSF CAREER grant. 

Ke’s selection as a mentor underscores the national recognition of his expertise in science education. As a mentor, he will support Abell Institute participants such as Eusden as they refine their research, explore collaborative practices, and develop their professional identities within the broader science education research community.

“The Abell Institute has a tradition of preparing the most promising emerging scholars in the field of science education,” Ke said. “Having participated as a Ph.D. student myself, I am especially proud to see Spencer recognized for the innovative research he is conducting."