Bernard J. Nebel, Ph.D.

Science is such a broad landscape that many teachers and parents can be completely stumped as to what to teach, when to teach it, and where to start. Press for Learning’s curriculum, “Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding” (BFSU) lays out lessons that address and integrate all the major areas of science and build understanding in a logical systematic manner. After several years of research, Nebel tired of the specialization of research and turned to his real passion, teaching, and spent the majority of his career at Catonsville Community College (CCC) in Catonsville MD. Joining the CCC faculty as the environmental movement was coming into being, Nebel recognized the need for but absence of a course in environmental science. He went on to develop and write one of early environmental science texts (Environmental Science, Prentice Hall, 1981 and subsequent editions). Nebel likes to say, “While I earned my degree in botany, my broad and varied interests really led me to specialize in being a generalist. This turned out the be the perfect background and training for environmental science” and later, elementary education. A second love, passion, and avocation throughout Nebel’s career has been working with (teaching) younger children. In his teaching at CCC, he continually confronted and became increasingly frustrated by the lack of formative, background knowledge and understanding demonstrated by his entry-level students. Examining elementary school curricula, coupled with his experience of what kids are capable of learning and understanding, led him to believe that there is a need and an opportunity for improvement. “Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding,” Nebel says, “is my contribution toward an improvement. Please consider this a work in progress. I will appreciate any feedback that you feel inclined to offer.”