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CHSS 212 Epistemology and Philosophy of Science
Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:45-12:45 and by appointment
Office: PAB 119W
My research interests involve education for democracy and social justice; history, philosophy, sociology of science and science education; and STEM education. My research is interdisciplinary in nature. I explore how future citizens can be empowered to develop a critical mindset, engage in democratic decision-making processes, and be advocates of social justice. One particular focus involves studying how history, philosophy, and sociology of science, within the context of precollege science education, can facilitate developing scientifically literate future citizens committed to social justice.
Dean, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, American University of Armenia
Director, Education Program, Lebanese American University
Chair, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Haigazian University
Short Bio:
I am Associate Professor and the Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at the American University of Armenia. Before joining AUA, I was Associate Professor of Education (tenured) and the Director of the Education Program at the Lebanese American University. Previously, I have also served as the Chair of the Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Haigazian University. Throughout the years, I have maintained an internally and externally funded active research agenda. My publications include 2 books, book chapters, articles in high-ranking peer-reviewed journals, and others. Currently, I serve as a member on the IHPST Advisory Board and the Editorial Board of the journal Science & Education, as well as on the International Editorial Advisory Board of the McGill Journal of Education. I have consulted several schools and projects as well as trained teachers and school leaders in the Middle East, Europe, and North America. Before joining academia, I worked as a high school science teacher, head of the science department of an international school, and teacher educator in Lebanon and Canada. I received my Ph.D. from the Department of Secondary Education at the University of Alberta, Canada. I have an MA in Education, a Teaching Diploma, and a BS in Health Sciences from the American University of Beirut.
Publications:
A. BOOKS
Yacoubian, H. A. & Hansson, L. (Eds.) (2020). Nature of Science for Social Justice. Cham: Springer.
Yacoubian, H. A. (2016). Critical Thinking at the Armenian Schools in Lebanon. Beirut: Haigazian University Press.
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B. BOOK CHAPTERS
Siry, C. & Yacoubian, H. A. (In Press). Coming together across differences: The uniting role of social justice in science education. In G. S. Carvalho, Z. Anastacio, & A. S. Afonso (Eds.), Fostering Scientific Citizenship in an Uncertain World: Contributions from Science Education Research. Cham: Springer.
Hansson, L. & Yacoubian, H. A. (2020). Nature of science for social justice: What, why, and how? In H. A. Yacoubian & L. Hansson (Eds.), Nature of Science for Social Justice. Cham: Springer.
Yacoubian, H. A. (2020). Turning unwanted stereotypes about scientists into nature of science learning experiences that foster social justice. In H. A. Yacoubian & L. Hansson (Eds.), Nature of Science for Social Justice. Cham: Springer.
Yacoubian, H. A. (2020). Teaching nature of science through a critical thinking approach. In W. F. McComas (Ed.), Nature of Science in Science Instruction: Rationales and Strategies. Science: Philosophy, History and Education. (pp. 199-212). Springer Nature Switzerland.
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C. JOURNAL SPECIAL ISSUE
Yacoubian, H. A. & Bazzul, J. (Eds.) (2015). Rethinking education for citizenship [Special issue]. Canadian Journal of Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education, 15(3).
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D. PAPERS IN PEER-REVIEWED JOURNALS
Yacoubian, H. A. (2021). Students’ views of nature of science: A long-term study. Science & Education, 30, 381-408.
Naal, H., Tavitian, L., & Yacoubian, H. A. (2020). Predictors of mental health literacy in a sample of university students in Lebanon. International Journal of Mental Health. Online First.
Yacoubian, H. A. (2020). Is science a universal or a culture-specific endeavor? The benefits of having secondary students critically explore this question. Cultural Studies of Science Education, 15 (4), 1097-1119.
El Takach, S. & Yacoubian, H. A. (2020). Lebanese science teachers’ and their students’ perceptions of science and scientists. International Journal of Education in Mathematics, Science and Technology, 8(1), 65-75.
Yacoubian, H. A. & Khishfe, R. (2018). Argumentation, critical thinking, nature of science and socioscientific issues: A dialogue between two researchers. International Journal of Science Education, 40(7), 496-807.
Yacoubian, H. A. (2018). Scientific literacy for democratic decision-making. International Journal of Science Education, 40(3), 308-327.
Yacoubian, H. A., Al-Khatib, L., & Mardirossian, T. (2017). Analysis of the image of scientists portrayed in the Lebanese national science textbooks. Science & Education, 26, 513-528.
Yacoubian, H. A. (2015). A framework for guiding future citizens to think critically about nature of science and socioscientific issues. Canadian Journal of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, 15(3), 248-260.
Yacoubian, H. A. (2013). A theoretical model for the cultivation of critical thinking and the nature of science in science teaching [In Greek]. Science Education: Research & Praxis, 40-41, 40-54.
Yacoubian, H. A., Hur, S. J., Lei, Y., Freed, C., Phillips, L. M. & Norris, S. P. (2011). Teaching scientific inquiry using science trade books. Alberta Science Education Journal, 41, 16-21.
Lei, Y., Yacoubian, H. A., Hur, S. J., Freed, C., Norris, S. P., & Phillips, L. M. (2011). Fostering scientific vocabulary learning: A close look at the science trade books in k-6 classrooms. Alberta Science Education Journal, 41, 31-37.
Yacoubian, H. A. & BouJaoude, S. (2010). The effect of reflective discussions following inquiry-based laboratory activities on students’ views of nature of science. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 47, 1229-1252.
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E. PAPERS IN CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
Yacoubian, H. A. & Khishfe, R. (2015). Argumentation, Critical Thinking, Nature of Science and Socioscientific Issues: A Dialogue between Two Researchers. Thirteenth Biennial Conference of the International History, Philosophy and Science Teaching Group. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Yacoubian, H. A. (2014). A developmental pathway for nature of science in school science. Annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), Philadelphia, PA, USA. Published in the AERA Online Paper Repository.
Yacoubian, H. A. (2013). Scientific literacy for social reproduction. In Morgado, J. C., Alves, M. P., et al. (Eds.), European Conference on Curriculum Studies. Future Directions: Uncertainty and Possibility (pp. 910-914). Braga, Portugal: University of Minho.
Yacoubian, H. A. (2013). Towards the design of a physical science curriculum that fosters critical thinking in the field of nature of science [In Greek]. In Pierratos, T., Diana, S., Polatoglou, X., & Koumaras, P. (Eds.), Proceedings of the National Conference – What Physics Makes Sense to Teach to Our Children Today? (pp. 45-54). Thessaloniki, Greece: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
Yacoubian, H. A. (2013). A framework for addressing nature of science in school science. Annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), San Fransisco, CA, USA. Published in the AERA Online Paper Repository.