Forward-thinking science teaching

Growing up near the World Bank's agricultural development project in Anyigba (present day Kogi State, Nigeria), Mark Akubo and his friends would visit the aerodrome to watch light planes take off and land, sparking Akubo's wonder at examining the world around him and thinking about how things work. The group began building models of planes and cars out of material they found lying around - wire, tin cans, sticks, string and even bathroom slippers for tires.

That early excitement inspired Akubo to pursue a science track in high school, and helping classmates study for exams made him discover his love for teaching.

Akubo joined the University of Delaware faculty in fall 2023. The assistant professor of physics and astronomy is also the director of secondary science education, shepherding future middle and high school teachers through mastering their chosen content area in biology, chemistry, earth science or physics, while learning effective teaching methods.

Akubo lived in Nebraska, Florida and New York before coming to Delaware. He draws on his life experiences to connect with his students, and he inspires them to do the same with their own students. He believes that understanding each person's unique identity and life journey helps students of all levels master the sciences.

UDaily spoke with Akubo to ask about his life in Nigeria, his identity and how he is preparing the next generation of science teachers.

Q: How does your identity impact your role as the director of secondary science education?

Akubo: I believe in the intersecting identities that each person has, and I put my own identity in conversation with other people's identity. I am a scholar, I am a STEM education researcher of Black and African ancestry, a cisgender man, and I am a professor of physics and astronomy - all of these are integrated. This helps me understand the experiences of people who are different than I am. No one needs to be disadvantaged because of who they are, where they come from and what they have access to. Their experiences matter in how they thrive in science classes.

Having frank, open conversations is a skill students need to learn. In today's STEM fields where the emphasis is on interdisciplinary research, you need the skills for conversation and collaboration. Having the skills to navigate team diversity in an equitable and inclusive way is non-negotiable.