Bringing a wealth of experience in scientific writing, international learning, and digital pedagogy, NYU Abu Dhabi’s Graduate STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Lecturer of Writing Philip Rodenbough seeks to invigorate the scientific program and curriculum at the University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) through his recent appointment there as a Fulbright US Scholar.
Rodenbough has been selected as one of over 800 US citizens who will teach and provide expertise abroad for the 2018-2019 academic year as part of the Fulbright program, which is an international educational exchange program sponsored by the US government for students, faculty, and other professionals. His forthcoming pedagogical development work at UNIKIN will be grounded by teaching in their chemistry department, which is hosting him as a visiting professor.
Rodenbough says he looks forward not only to contributing what he knows about the pursuit of excellence in science writing and science classrooms, but also to learning about local ideas in Kinshasa and sharing that knowledge back home.
Rodenbough brings extensive expertise in international teaching and in revamping science curricula in African contexts. Prior to earning his PhD at Columbia University, he taught secondary school science in West Africa with the US Peace Corps, where he supported active learning environments. More recently, his ongoing project to develop locally-conscious chemistry lessons for use in high school computer labs in East Africa won funding from the Materials Research Society Foundation.
Rodenbough held a research postdoctoral fellowship at NYU Abu Dhabi and a teaching postdoctoral fellowship at the American University in Cairo before joining NYU Abu Dhabi as a Graduate STEM Lecturer of Writing with the Graduate and Postdoctoral Programs Office, with affiliation to the Writing Center. He will continue to manage NYU Abu Dhabi’s Scientific Writing Program remotely during his temporary Fulbright fellowship leave for the Fall 2018 and Spring 2019 semesters.
