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News Release

Last modified: Friday, February 9, 2007

Thai university honoring longtime IU education professor

Emeritus Professor Hans Andersen has worked with Thailand educational system for 36 years

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 9, 2007

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- During a ceremony at the Thai Royal Place on Sunday (Feb. 11), the Crown Prince of Thailand will present Indiana University School of Education Professor Emeritus Hans Andersen with an honorary doctorate degree from Phranakorn Rajabhat University in Bangkok, Thailand.

"Professor Andersen has had a long and illustrious career in science education at Indiana University as evidenced by the award of this honorary degree. His work has had international impact and brought much distinction to the School of Education and the university," said Gerardo M. Gonzalez, university dean of the IU School of Education.

Anderson came to IU in 1966 as an assistant professor of education. In 1971, he first traveled to Thailand. He spent 1972 in Bangkok as a senior expert in educational techniques for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) at the Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology. As a professor of science and environmental education since 1974, Andersen has helped promote environmental management, as well as water and wildlife conservation in Thai communities.

For the past three years, he has taught an environmental education master's degree program at Phranakorn Rajabhat University as a guest lecturer and worked toward extensive science teaching methodology reforms.

"Our whole family has developed a love affair with Thailand and its people," Andersen said, "as has everyone who has been given the opportunity to visit and work there."

He said IU's involvement in Thailand is longstanding. Several IU School of Education faculty members helped establish Thailand's first four-year teacher training college in 1954. Additionally, IU has formal agreements with nine institutions in Thailand and a decades-long relationship with Thailand's National Institute of Development Administration.

The professor has done significant work on science education nationally as well as in Indiana. His research earned National Science Foundation funding of four projects aimed at enhancing how teachers provide science instruction. Additionally, the Indiana State Department of Education funded a project for "Minds-On" science, a teaching method that engages students in problem-solving using science.

For more information, contact Chuck Carney, IU School of Education, at 812-856-8027 or ccarney@indiana.edu.

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