Rodger W. Bybee

Rodger W. Bybee is a leading figure in science education and the principal architect of the BSCS 5E Instructional Model, a widely adopted inquiry-based framework organized around the phases engage, explore, explain, elaborate, and evaluate. He earned his PhD in science education from New York University, after completing his BA and MA at the University of Northern Colorado, and has taught science at the elementary, secondary, and college levels, including serving as a Professor of Education at Carleton College from 1972 to 1985.

Bybee served as Executive Director of the Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS) until his retirement in 2007, leading work in curriculum development, professional development, and research on science education reform. Prior to BSCS, he was Executive Director of the National Research Council’s Center for Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Education, where he played a major role in developing the National Science Education Standards and chaired the content working group for that project. He was also a writing team leader for the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and has advised national and international assessments, including NAEP, TIMSS, and serving as chair of the science expert group and forum for the 2006 PISA science assessment.[