About Us

Authors 

Dr. Karen Ostlund is a Past President (2012-2013) of the National Science Teaching Association. She is retired from teaching science courses for elementary education majors in the UTeach program in the College of Natural Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin. She holds a doctorate in Science Education, University of Minnesota. Karen taught grade levels K-6, and both undergraduate and graduate college level courses. She has coauthored several elementary science textbook series and inquiry books for teachers. Karen was a winner of the National Science Teachers Association Distinguished Teaching Award at the Undergraduate College Level.

Sheryl Mercier is currently retired from everyday teaching but still "teaches" by sharing her ideas and illustrations for science. She holds a Masters of Arts in Education from Fresno Pacific University, in Fresno,California. Sheryl taught grade levels K through 9 and graduate college level courses. She was the original illustrator for the AIMS Project, coauthored several elementary science textbook series and inquiry books for teachers and was the winner in California for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching.