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Address(s)Marco Molinaro
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Biography
Dr. Molinaro has a dual B.S., in Biophysics and Chemistry from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan and a Ph.D., in Biophysical Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley. Since the early 1990’s, he has been strongly involved in education and has a familiarity with multiple educational technologies.
From 1994 through 1999, Dr. Molinaro was involved in various national efforts (ModularChem Consortium and ChemConnections) to reform the undergraduate curriculum in chemistry utilizing problem-based approaches and technology. During that period, he spent a year as a research fellow at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, to research faculty use of technology in instruction.
From 1998 through 2003, he was the founder and director of the ScienceVIEW educational multimedia design, research, and development group at the Lawrence Hall of Science (LHS) at UC Berkeley, specializing in creating multimedia materials aimed at teaching and learning science in formal and informal settings. Between his earlier chemistry work and LHS, he has developed more than 15 major CD-ROM and Internet-based products for teachers, students and families. During his tenure as ScienceVIEW director, he also led various research efforts related to educational technology effectiveness including: learning-optimized use of molecular simulations in the classroom, understanding the potential of computer-based data collection for formative assessment in formal and informal learning environments, and developing usability guidelines for creating age appropriate interactive activities on the Internet. During 2002-2005, he led the Windows on Research: Focus on Nanotechnology Public Exhibit Project (Nanozone.org) aimed at communicating nanoscience to visitors 8-14 years of age.
He is currently focusing his attention to communicating the latest research results, and the science behind them, to students from 5 years to 100 years of age, in both formal and informal settings with an emphasis on actively engaging participants in “doing” science. Now at the University of California, Davis, he is the Chief Education Officer for the Center for Biophotonics, where he is in charge of coordinating all educational activities of the Center, including those aimed at K-12, higher education, and the public. One of latest projects is entitled Biophotonicsworld.org – a biophotonics knowledge base for education, research and industry.
Dr. Molinaro is consulting with the BioXFEL Center in its educational programs and initiatives.
