Dr. Kristy Daniel

Dr. Kristy Daniel is a Full Professor in the Department of Biology at Texas State University. She has a B.A. in Biology from Westminster College, earned an M.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Iowa State University, and obtained a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction: Science Education, College Teaching from the University of Missouri. Kristy is a biology education researcher focusing on understanding the role of representation in science learning and acceptance. Her research uses interdisciplinary and multi-method approaches to explore how people learn and share their understanding of visual representations of science data and concepts, how scientists represent themselves and their science to non-scientific audiences, and how representation can help broaden participation in the sciences.

One of her recent projects, Research Rangers, is a volunteer-led initiative working toward developing and implementing a series of outdoor science activities for families. Within Research Rangers, her team has developed a Trace Trackers activity, which is a Leave No Trace intervention working to create measurable public behavior changes in environmental stewardship.

Kristy teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on biology interpretation and outreach programming design, science communication, sustainable field studies practices, and international conservation that focuses on Leave No Trace awareness. Her hope is to find ways to help people communicate science effectively in formal and informal learning settings, making science accessible to all and promoting environmentally minded behaviors within communities.