Meridith Bruozas recently stepped into the role of Interim Institutional Partnerships Director, where she will lead the laboratory’s university strategy, which includes building out frameworks for successful research partnerships and increasing engagement with minority-serving institutions and community colleges.

As the Manager of Educational Programs and Outreach, Ms. Bruozas develops high-quality education and workforce development programs that are aligned to mission science and support the development of the next generation of STEM problem solvers and leaders. She leads a highly effective team in developing and implementing on and off-site programming that ranges from inspiring and connecting middle school youth to STEM experiences, to arming high school students with necessary STEM skills, to providing undergraduate and graduate students once-in-a-lifetime internship experiences. She also focuses on developing key partnerships with local and regional organizations, universities, and school systems. Her goal is to create high-quality, connected programming that provides equitable access to all students interested in pursuing STEM from middle to graduate level.

Ms. Bruozas is an educator by training and has spent the past 20 years in a combination of district, nonprofit and academic leadership positions that research and promote STEM education. She earned her M.S. in Learning Sciences from Northwestern University and a B.S. in Secondary Education and Biological Sciences from Ball State University. Her publications include several national science curricula for middle and high school classrooms and numerous professional presentations and research articles.

Ms. Bruozas is the inaugural chair of the National Laboratory Education Directors Council, leading national STEM efforts across the 17 Department of Energy national labs and currently chairing the workforce development efforts within the National Energy Storage Grand Challenge. Additionally, she is a member of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching, National Science Teacher Association, and International Society of Technology in Education.

Grants

NSF-STEM+C 1640088. Integrating Meteorology, Mathematics, and Computational Thinking: Research on Students’ Learning and Use of Data, Modeling, and Prediction Practices for Weather Forecasting. $2.5M Co-PI.

NSF-HRD 1202563. Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Midwest Regional Center for Excellence. $3.1M Co-PI.

Presentations

Bruozas, M, Marcum-Dietrich, N., and Staudt, C. (2019). Students’ Use of Data, Modeling, and Prediction Practices for Weather. National Association of Researcher in Science Teaching Conference, Baltimore, MD.

Sturner, K., Bruozas, M. and Domyancich, J. 11-14 April 2019. Empowering Experiences for Girls in Computer Science. National Science Teachers Association Conference, St. Louis, MO.

Bruozas, M. (2018). Preparing the Next Generation for a Future Unknown. Keynote for TechCon Illinois Association for School Business Officials, Naperville, IL.

Marcum-Dietrich, N., Bruozas, M., and Staudt, C. (2018). Precipitating Change: Embedding Computational Thinking into Middle School Science Classrooms. National Association of Research in Science Teaching Conference, Washington, D.C.

Bruozas, M., Residori, R. (2012). Technology Enhanced Learning: Incorporating Technology with the Common Core. Presented at the Chicago Teachers Union Common Core State Standards Conference, Chicago, IL.

Bruozas, M., Connolly, J., Perez, L. (2012). School Administrator as Instructional Leader. Presented at the Chicago Principals and Administrators Association – Pre-Conference.

Bruozas, M., Parrott, E. (2012). Using Social Media is Good Teaching. Presented at Chicago Public School TechTalk 2012.

Bruozas, M. (2012). STEM – Technology Enhanced Learning Experiences- Concept First, Technology Second. Presented at Chicago Public School TechTalk 2012.

Bruozas, M., Speigel, S., Edmondson, E. (2010). Professional Development Institute: Emerging into Inquiry. Presented at National Science Teachers Association, Philadelphia, PA.

Bruozas, M., Speigel, S., Stennett, B. (2009). Professional Development Institute: Emerging into Inquiry. Presented at National Science Teachers Association, New Orleans, LA.

Bruozas, M. (2005-2007). Using Multiple Technologies in Project-Based Lessons. This presentation was given at many regional and national and regional conferences from 2005-2007.

Bruozas, M., Finn, L.-E. (2005). Forward Thinking: Backwards Design. Presented at National Science Teachers Association, Midwest Regional Conference, Chicago, IL.

Bruozas, M. (2005- 2007). Investigations in Environmental Science: A Case-Based Approach to the Study of Environmental Science. This presentation was given at multiple national and regional conferences.

Bruozas, M., Dowling, J. (2007). Students as Scientific Decision Makers. Presented at the National Science Teachers Association annual conference, St. Louis, MO.

Bruozas, M. (2007). Teaching Students about Evidence-Based Decision Making. Presented at the National Science Teachers Association regional conferences, Detroit, MI; Birmingham, AL; Denver, CO.

Bruozas, M. (2007). Using GIS to Support Learning About Environmental Issues. Presented at the National Science Teachers Association regional conferences, Detroit, MI; Birmingham, AL; Denver, CO.

Bruozas, M. (2007). How to Get the Most Out of Your Classroom Discussions. Presented at the National Science Teachers Association regional conferences, Detroit, MI; Birmingham, AL; Denver, CO.

Edelson, D.C. & Bruozas, M. (2006, Feb). Inquiry Learning in Science. Keynote at the ISELA Winter Meeting, Wheaton, IL.

Tzou, C.T., Reiser, B.J., Hug, B., Finn, L.-E., Dodick, J., & Bruozas, M. (2003). Teaching about ecosystems in a project-based curriculum: challenges and promises. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Association of Research in Science Teaching, Philadelphia, PA.

Publications

Marcum-Dietrich, N., Bruozas, M., Domyancich, J. (2022). Does This Count as Work? Nurturing Computational Thinking in the Science Classroom.  The Science Teacher, 89(6),. 12 – 15.

Bruozas, M., Domyancich, J., Sturner, K., and Staudt, C. (2019). Precipitating Change: Integrating Meteorology, Mathematics and Computational Thinking. (In Press).

Bruozas, M. (2013). Making Environmental Decisions. Washington, D.C. National Geographic Society.

Edelson, D.C., Tarnoff, A., Schwille, K., Bruozas, M., & Switzer, A. (2006). Learning to make systematic decisions. The Science Teacher, 73(4), 40-45.

Edelson, D.C., Schwille, K., Bruozas, M., Lach, M., Taber, M., Gordin, D.N., Chinsio, K., Goldstein, N., & Tarnoff, A. (2005). Investigations in environmental science: A case-based approach to the study of environmental systems. Armonk, NY: It’s About Time.

Stylinski, C., Bruozas, M., Tarnoff, A., Doty, C. (2005). Inquiry with GIS: Using GIS to Understand Streams. UMCES Appalachian Laboratory.

Bruozas, M., Dodick, J., Finn, L.-E., Hug, B., Kuhn, L., Tzou, C., & Reiser, B.J., (2004). Struggle in natural environments: What will survive? In J.Krajcik & B.J. Reiser (Eds.), IQWST: Investigating and questioning our world through science and technology. Evanston, IL: Northwestern University.

Edelson, D.C., Schwille, K., Bruozas, M., Lach, M., Taber, M., Gordin, D.N., Chinsio, K., Goldstein, N. & Tarnoff, A. (July 2003). Looking at the Environment: Investigations in Environmental Science Using Geographic Visualization and Information Systems. Evanston, IL: Northwestern.

Wilensky, U., Bruozas, M.A., Levy, S. (2003). Connected Chemistry Curriculum. Evanston, IL: Northwestern University.

Tzou, C.T., Reiser, B.J., Hug, B., Finn, L.-E., Dodick, J., & Bruozas, M. (2003). Teaching about ecosystems in a project-based curriculum: challenges and promises. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Association of Research in Science Teaching, Philadelphia, PA.