2023 Award Recipient 
 

Christopher Emdin
University of Southern California

The recipient of the 2023 Exemplary Contributions to Practice-Engaged Research Award is Dr. Christopher Emdin, for his longstanding commitment to center his work in community programs that offer culturally sustaining modes of science education. In addition to the reach of his best-selling practitioner-geared book, For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood, and his widely engaged #HipHopEd social media campaign, program participants’ testimonials about the impact of his work on their science learning offer compelling evidence of his wide and varied impact. For these reasons, Dr. Emdin offers the field an outstanding model of building a scholarly career out of practice-based research.

The Exemplary Contributions to Practice-Engaged Research Award is presented to an education research scholar or scholars in recognition of collaborative project(s) between researchers and practitioners that have had sustained and observable effects on contexts of practice.

Research conducted in settings in which collaboration between researchers and practitioners is integral to addressing challenging issues, constructing research-based innovations, or undertaking research‐based evaluations that have an impact beyond a single program or site are eligible for consideration. 

For purposes of this award, practice settings are understood to span the spectrum of educational contexts and levels of education, including informal environments, in which learning occurs. This award excludes work designed to influence the larger public or policy makers, or to have an indirect influence on education settings or practice though publications or research. 

The award will be presented annually, but may represent work conducted within a five-year time frame preceding the year in which the award is conferred.