Rate My Professor Bruce Palmquist

Bruce Palmquist is a Teaching Professor in the Departments of Physics and Science Education at Central Washington University, where he has served on the faculty since 1993, progressing from Assistant/Associate Professor to his current position in 2005. He holds a B.A. magna cum laude from Augsburg College (1984), an M.A. in History of Science from the University of Minnesota (1990), an M.S. in Physics from the University of Minnesota (1992), and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction–Science Education from the University of Minnesota (1993). Before joining Central Washington University, Palmquist taught science and mathematics in Minneapolis Public Schools and Lake Crystal High School in Minnesota, and worked as a teaching assistant in physics and student teaching supervisor at the University of Minnesota. His research specializations and academic interests center on science education, physics teacher preparation, inquiry-based learning, and astronomy education. He mentors undergraduate students on small-scale science education curriculum development and action research projects, develops content and delivers shows at the CWU Lydig Planetarium, and teaches courses such as Introductory Astronomy (PHYS 101/102), Physics Inquiry (PHYS 106), General Physics (PHYS 181/182/183), Science Education in Elementary Schools (SCED 322), and Advanced Teaching Strategies in Elementary Science (SCED 422).

Palmquist has earned significant recognition for his contributions to teaching and science education, including the 2025 CWU Faculty Innovator of the Year award for 'The Who, What, Why, Where, When and How of Student-Created Audio Podcasts,' the 2019 College of the Sciences Faculty/Staff Member of the Year, the 2009 Professional Education Advisory Board Crystal Apple Award for outstanding teacher educator, the 2005 Washington Professor of the Year from the Carnegie Foundation and Council for Advancement and Support of Education, and the 2004 CWU Distinguished Professor–Public Service. He has secured major grants, such as NSF Project TEACH ($212,607 in 1999; $306,960 in 2001), NSF Teacher Professional Continuum ($299,845 in 2005), and Physics Teacher Education Coalition ($65,193 in 2012), supporting initiatives to improve physics and science teacher preparation. Key publications include 'Preservice Teachers' Views of the Nature of Science During a Postbaccalaureate Science Teaching Program' with Fred Finley (Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 1997), 'Juan’s Dilemma: A New Twist on the Old Lemon Battery' with Vanessa Hunt et al. (The Science Teacher, 2010), case studies 'The Itsy-Bitsy Spider' (2015) and 'Sorting Trash with Static Electricity' (2014) from the National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science, and Instructor's Manual for Contemporary Activities in Astronomy, 3rd edition (Kendall/Hunt, 2006). He also authors the weekly astronomy column 'What's up in the Sky' for The Daily Record since 2001.