Photograph by Carlye Calvin
Sandra Henderson
Hi there!
I am a science educator with the Windows to the Universe project. Mostly, I work on the classroom activities and help lead our professional development efforts for teachers. It is very rewarding and enjoyable to help take the Windows to the Universe project 'on the road' to share with science teachers from around the country at meetings and conferences.
Portland, Oregon is my hometown. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest gave me the opportunity to explore all sorts of different environments like mountains, valleys, coastal areas, high deserts, and rivers. When it was time to go to college, I knew I wanted to do something that would let me learn more about the world's different ecosystems and the plants, animals, and people living in them. I attended Oregon State University and earned a B.S. and M.S. from the Department of Geography.
After graduating, I went to work at the U.S. Environmental Research Laboratory where I joined a team working on the potential effects of climate change on terrestrial ecosystems. Part of our work was to figure out what might happen to the plants and animals of different ecosystems if the climate continued to change rapidly. I had an opportunity to help teachers develop classroom materials on climate. As a result of my time working with teachers, I returned to Oregon State University and earned a Ph.D. in Science Education. I have continued to work as a science educator at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado where I work on a number of different science education projects including Windows to the Universe.
When I am not at work, there are lots of things that keep me busy. I am married to a really nice guy and we have two grown children. I love being around animals and am very lucky to have two dogs, three cats, and five horses. I also like to hike, ski, garden, quilt, cook, and read.
