Philip Bell

Philip Bell pursues a cognitive and cultural program of research across diverse environments focused on how people learn about science and technology in ways that are personally consequential to them. He is an associate professor of learning sciences and human development at the University of Washington, Seattle and holds the Geda and Phil Condit Distinguished Professorship of Science and Mathematics Education.

His research focuses on everyday expertise development in science and health, culturally relevant science instruction, the use of emerging learning technologies in science classrooms, children's argumentation and conceptual change in science, and ethnographic and design-based research methods in education. Bell directs the UW Institute for Science and Math Education, which cultivates R&D projects focused on promoting equity in STEM education.

He co-directs the Learning in Informal and Formal Environments (LIFE) Science of Learning research center, which investigates the social foundations of learning across diverse communities, contexts, and domains. Bell recently served on the Board on Science Education at the National Academy of Sciences where he co-edited a consensus report on Learning Science in Informal Environments and recently served on the committee that authored A Framework for K12 Science Education, which is guiding the development of Next Generation Science Standards.

Bell has a background in human cognition and development, science education, computer science, and electrical engineering.