Fostering Understanding of Complex Systems in Biology Education

Prof. Orit Ben-Zvi Assaraf is former Chair of the Graduate Program for Science and Technology Education, at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Israel. Her work in science education focuses on issues such as: Design of informal outdoor learning environments; Cognitive based research into systems thinking in the ?eld of Biology, Ecology and Earth sciences and development of environmental literacy and nature conservation within science education.Dr. Marie-Christine Knippels is an Associate Professor in Science Education and former head of the Biology education team at the Freudenthal Institute, Utrecht University, the Netherlands. She is a biologist, holds a PhD in Genetics Education and completed a postdoc research project on moral reasoning in genomics-related dilemmas. Her research focuses on fostering metacognitive skills in biology education and promoting scientific literacy and citizenship, through design based research and Lesson study projects. She has (co)authoredarticles on ‘yo-yo thinking’, systems thinking, reasoning with models in biology education and socio-scientific issues. She has been involved in various European projects and networks, and led the EU-FP7 PARRISE project.