Helen Quinn: Biographical Sketch

Helen R. Quinn (NAS), is a Professor of Physics at Stanford University where she also serves as Education and Public Outreach Manager at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center of Stanford University. Dr. Quinn is a theoretical physicist who was inducted into the National Academies in 2003. Dr. Quinn is being nominated as the chair for the Study of NASA’s Pre-College Education Programs for her exemplary scholarship in physics, her interest and experience in science education and public outreach, and her familiarity with the National Academies study process. She was an active contributor to the California State Science Curriculum Reforms and is the president of Contemporary Physics Education Project, a world-wide non-profit organization of teachers, educators, and physicists. Dr. Quinn is a member of the Board on Science Education and serves on the board for the NRC’s Center for Education. Previously she served as a member on the NRC's Committee on Physics of the Universe. Dr. Quinn served as a member on the NRC study committee for How Students Learn Science, K-8, which focused on how children learn the ideas of science. Dr. Quinn received a Ph.D. in physics from Stanford University in 1967. She taught at Harvard University prior to moving to Stanford. She was president of the American Physical Society through 2005. She has been widely published and holds numerous honors. Dr. Quinn is considered by many to be one of an elite group of women who have made original and important contributions to physics and is dedicated to the improvement of science education.