Dr. J. Lawrence Bencze, Associate Professor Emeritus, Science Education, Dept. CTL, OISE, UofT
Welcome to my online curriculum vitae. Although I no longer teach courses, I do some university service work (e.g., Host PhD Oral Exams) and some tasks with the SMT Centre. Mostly, though, I focus on my STEPWISE-informed research & publication programme. Some publications from this research are highlighted on this page. Refer also to my ORCID record, my department’s profile for me and a PDF copy of my most recent full curriculum vitae. I can be contacted at: larry.bencze@utoronto.ca.
PUBLICATIONS
Recent Journal Articles
Refereed
- El Halwany, S., Zouda, M., & Bencze, L. (in press). Stepping into STS literature: Some implications for promoting socioecological justice through science education. Cultural Studies of Science Education, . [invited]
- El Halwany, S., Bencze, L., Hassan, N., Schaffer, K., Milanovic, M. & Zouda, M. (in press). Becoming alive within science education (research): Thinking with life history(ies), bodies and stickiness. Cultural Studies of Science Education, Online First.
- Bencze, J.L. (2020). Re-visioning ideological assemblages through de-punctualizing and activist science, mathematics & technology education. Canadian Journal of Science, Mathematics & Technology Education, 20(4), 736–749. [invited]
- Bencze, L., Pouliot, C., Pedretti, E., Simonneaux, L., Simonneaux, J., & Zeidler, D. (2020). SAQ, SSI and STSE education: Defending and extending ‘science-in-context’. Cultural Studies of Science Education, 15(3), 825–851.
- Tsoumparis, D., Bencze, L., Curtis, S., & Zouda, M. (2020). Practical suggestions for promoting science student actions to overcome social and environmental harms. School Science Review, 102(379), 64-70.
Non-refereed
- Bencze, J.L. (2020). Post-pandemic science & technology education: An opportune and necessary ideological battle. Journal for Activist Science & Technology Education, 11(2), 33-54.
- Bencze, J.L. (2020). Stepwise progress towards more widespread altruistic uses of science and technology. Journal for Activist Science & Technology Education, 11(1), VI-VIII.
Recent Book Chapters
- Bencze, J.L., & Carter, L.C. (2020). Capitalism, nature of science and science education: Interrogating and mitigating threats to social justice. In H.A. Yacoubian & L. Hansson (Eds.), Nature of science for social justice (pp. 59-78). Dordrecht: Springer.
- Bencze, L., El Halwany, S., & Zouda, M. (2020). Science teacher education promoting critical and active public engagement to address socioscientific problems. In M. Evagorou, J. Alexis Nielsen & J. Dillon (Eds.), Science teacher education for responsible citizenship: Towards a pedagogy for relevance through socio-scientific issues (pp. 63-83). Dordrecht: Springer.
- El Halwany, S., Zouda, M., Pouliot, C., & Bencze, L. (2020). Student-teachers’ relationships to knowledge and to their practices for critical and activist STSE education. In K.W. Clausen & G. Black (Eds.), The future of action research in education: A Canadian perspective (pp. 171-193). Montreal & Kingston: McGill-Queen’s University Press.
- Bencze, L., Carter, L., Groleau, A., Krstovic, M., Levinson, R., Martin, J., Martins, I., Pouliot, C., & Weinstein, M. (2019). Promoting students’ critical and active engagement in socio-scientific problems: Inter/Trans-national perspectives. In E. McLoughlin, O. Finlayson, S. Erduran & P. Childs (Eds.), Bridging research and practice in science education: Selected papers from the ESERA 2017 conference (pp. 171-188). Dordrecht: Springer.
Refereed Books (all)
Refereed
- Weinstein, M., Pouliot, C., Martins, I., Levinson, R., Carter, L., & Bencze, L. (in preparation). Science education towards social and ecological justice: Provocations and conversations. Dordrecht: Springer.
- Bencze, J.L. (ed.) (2017). Science & technology education promoting wellbeing for individuals, societies & environments. Dordrecht: Springer (Summary).
- Bencze, J.L., & Alsop, S. (eds.). (2014). Activist science & technology education. Dordrecht: Springer (Advert.).
- Alsop, S., Bencze, L., & Pedretti, E. (eds.) (2005). Analysing exemplary science teaching: Theoretical lenses and a spectrum of possibilities for practice. Buckingham: Open University Press (Cover).
Non-refereed
- Milanovic, M., El Halwany, S., Krstovic, M., Mitchell, K., Padamsi, Z., Qureshi, N., Schaffer, K., Zouda, M., & Bencze, L. (2019). Science education for civic action: A ‘STEPWISE’ project resource guide for teachers. Toronto: STEPWISE Research and Publication Team (PDF & Site).
- Zouda, M., Schaffter, K., Pouliot, C., Milanovic, M., El Halwany, S., Padamsi, Z., Qureshi, N., & Bencze, L. (2019). Ban the dust: A graphic novel about citizen action to eliminate urban dust pollution. Toronto: STEPWISE Research and Publication Team [Novel; Suggested Pedagogy].
Accepted Conference Proposals
Upcoming Academic Talks
- Bencze, L. (invited). Social media: Growing a pro-capitalist ‘Borg.’ A panel presentation & discussion to faculty & students of the Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa, March 23, 2021, regarding the video documentary, The Social Dilemma.
Upcoming Conferences
EDITORIAL WORK
Editorial Board Memberships
- Cultural Studies of Science Education. This journal’s priorities highly align with my socio-political views. Supporter by Springer publishers, they also host the annual CSSE Forum – a small conference featuring longer, small-group, discussions. As a Board member, I also serve as Lead Editor for submitted manuscripts – which involves initial overall review and coordination of expert reviews of each manuscript to which I have been assigned.
- Contemporary Trends and Issues in Science Education. This series of books published by Springer also aligns with my political views and is edited by Dana Zeidler – a prominent scholar regarding socioscientific issues in science education. I am periodically asked to review proposals for academic books for this series.
Journal Manuscript Reviewer
Journal Co-founder/Editor
Dr. Steve Alsop at York University in Toronto and I co-founded/edit JASTE, a community-reviewed & open-access journal, in 2009. Our latest issues are highlighted at right (below on phones). JASTE 11.1, advertised through our video about it, is the third in a series of school-based issues featuring student RiNA project reports based on STEPWISE pedagogy. Our most recent issue, JASTE 11.2, features academic articles discussing possible – and/or perhaps necessary – influences of the CoViD-19 pandemic on science & technology education. Please consider helping us advertise these and other JASTE issues.
Journal Guest Editor
I co-edited or edited issues of three journals, including:
- CSSE 12.4 (2017): Biopolitics & Science Education;
- CJSMTE 10.3 (2010): Activism through SMT Education;
- Orbit 31.3 (2000): Science, Math. & Technology (Education) for All.
EDUCATIONAL & WORK BACKGROUND
Education
- PhD, Education (U. Toronto [OISE]), 1995); Thesis: Bencze, J. L. (1995). Towards a more authentic and feasible science curriculum for secondary schools. Unpublished PhD Thesis. Toronto: Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto.
- BEd, Biology/Chemistry (Queen’s U., 1977).
- MSc, Biology (Queen’s U., 1977); Thesis: Bencze, J. L. (1977). Cytogenetic and fine structural analysis of polytene chromosomes from Drosophila melanogaster. Unpublished MSc Thesis. Kingston, ON: Queen’s University.
- BSc, Biology (Queen’s U., 1974).
- Secondary School Diploma, PCVS, Peterborough, ON, 1970.
- Secondary School Diploma (Technology Studies), ASCVI, Peterborough, ON, 1968.
- Elementary School Diploma, St. Peter’s Elementary School, Peterborough, ON, 1964.
Work Experience
- Associate Professor (Emeritus), Science Education, OISE/UT, since July 1, 2018.
- Assistant-Associate Professor, Science Education, OISE/UT, 1998-2018 (tenured, 2003).
- Assistant Professor of Education, College of Education, U. Sask., 1997-98.
- Independent Science Consultant, 1995-97.
- Consultant, Intermediate & Senior Science, York CDSB, Ontario, 1988-92.
- Teacher of Science, Elementary & Secondary Independent, Private & Public Schools, Ontario, 1977-88.
FORMER UNIVERSITY TEACHING
Personal Note
After ‘retirement’ on July 1, 2018, from teaching and most university committee work, I moved to Kingston, ON. Apart from current pandemic restrictions, however, I am usually in Toronto for meetings with graduate students, colleagues, teachers and others for 1-2 days per week. To meet up, write to me at: larry.bencze@utoronto.ca.