MOHAVE COUNTY – Mohave College biology professor, Josh Hoskinson, was invited to speak at the Australasian Science Education Research Association Conference in Melbourne, Australia to speak about his research on the interaction between students’ worldviews and their experiences learning biology.
The session, Science and Spirituality in the Anthropocene, focused on the interactions between students’ sense of spirituality, their meaning, purpose and identity in the world, and their learning of science.
The presentation by Dr. Hoskinson argued that science education is more than just learning facts and it also influences how students see themselves, and the world around them. While science is often taught as purely objective, Dr. Hoskinson said it can unintentionally send messages about life’s biggest questions, such as “Who am I?” and “What is my purpose?”
“Our goal is to make science classrooms places of freedom and growth,” said Dr. Hoskinson. “When students are encouraged to bring their whole selves into the learning process, they not only learn science better but also learn more about who they are.”
The research called on instructors to be mindful of the power they hold in shaping students’ worldviews. He suggested using approaches based on empathy, acceptance and open discussion, what he calls “pedagogies of love” to create classrooms where all students feel they belong.
These teaching strategies, Dr. Hoskinson explained, can help students wrestle with difficult topics such as evolution, which often overlap with personal or religious beliefs. By fostering open dialogue, instructors can support both scientific learning and personal growth.
Dr. Hoskinson has been with the college since 2024, and is a faculty member on the Lake Havasu Campus. He has more than a decade of experience teaching at the college and university level, including at the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, plus other institutions in the state. In addition to this work on science education, he also studies how complex life evolved on Earth and is working to create new undergraduate research opportunities at Mohave College.
To learn more about our Life Science program, visit Mohave.edu/LifeScience. There’s still time to sign up for the fall semester with twelve-week classes starting Sept. 15 and eight-week classes starting Oct. 13. Those interested in learning more about becoming a student should visit Mohave.edu/Admission. Fill out the online form to create a student account, and a College representative will be in touch to assist with the application, tuition assistance and enrollment process.
