Rick Mrazek, Ph.D.

Rick Mrazek is a Professor of Science Education in the Faculty of Education at the University of Lethbridge and U of L Board of Governors’ Teaching Chair. After earning his B.Sc. and B.Ed. he taught Grades 3-12 in southern Alberta before going on to obtain his Masters and Ph.D. in Science Education. He taught at the University of Alberta, and served with Alberta Education where he helped establish the Student Evaluation and Assessment branch.

Dr. Mrazek has been internationally recognized as a leading science, technology and environmental educator. His research areas include science education, integrating environmental and conservation education in school curriculum, as well as using emerging technologies in teaching and learning.

In 1980 he established the beginnings of the environmental education program in the Faculty of Education at the University of Lethbridge. As a founding member of the U of L Energy Management and Sustainability committee he helped instill a 'Pedagogy of Place' that requires all new buildings on campus to be 'LEEDS' certifiable.

Dr. Mrazek has assisted with the development of science curriculum at all levels in the Province of Alberta over the past 3 decades, including the natural resource studies component of the Career and Technology Studies program where he authored the draft Wildlife curriculum for Grades 7 - 12. He has worked extensively on professional development opportunities for teachers to assist with the development and implementation of a Science - Technology - Society - Environment curriculum in schools. His summer institutes still serve as a model for establishing professional learning communities.

Since 1995 he has been the principle investigator and director of The Center for the Investigation of Use of Computer Communication Technology in Education that became the Teaching and Learning with Technology Research and Development (TLTRD) area and the University of Lethbridge Curriculum Re-Development Centre (CRDC). The award winning "Global Change" and "Water Under Fire" television documentaries as well as the CWF ‘Water Under Fire PSAs (Public Service Announcements) and Webisodes’ are some of his recent collaborative productions. He is also co-chair of the U of L Centre for the Advancement of Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CAETL).

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