Eve Manz
Associate Professor
Dr. Eve Manz is an associate professor of science education at Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. Most of her work has been conducted in the field of elementary science education, where she has studied how to develop learning environments that meaningfully engage children in science practices such as modeling, argumentation, and explanation. She works closely with elementary teachers and instructional leaders to develop new approaches to science instruction that center student and teacher sense-making.
Dr. Manz has two current NSF-funded projects. In one project, she is working in partnership with Dr. Jennifer Altavilla-Giordano and Somerville Public Schools to develop and study district-wide infrastructure for elementary science instruction, with a focus on instructional practices that leverage learners’ communicative resources and develop language through science. In a second, she is conducting a study, with Dr. Bill Penuel and researchers at the University of Colorado, Boulder, of researchers’ co-design practices. She is also exploring partnerships between BU, community-based science organizations, and school districts to engage students in community- and place-based science.
Dr. Manz’s work has been been funded by the James S. McDonnell Foundation, the George Lucas Educational Foundation, the Kellogg Foundation, and the National Science Foundation She is the recipient of the 2019 Early Career Research Award from the National Association for Research in Science Teaching, an NSF CAREER grant, and multiple other awards. She served on the National Academies of Science and Engineering Committee on Enhancing Science and Engineering in Prekindergarten through Fifth Grades and contributed to the practitioner volume, Rise and Thrive with Science.
Pronouns: she/her
Recent News
- Making Sense of Science
- Scholarly Accomplishments October 2025
- BU Wheelock Celebrates at Alumni Weekend 2025
- Celebrating a Decade of Igniting Hearts and Minds
- How Big Questions Can Spark Science Learning
- Scholarly Accomplishments May 2025
- Scholarly Accomplishments April 2025
- Four BU Wheelock Faculty Promoted with Tenure
- Research Team Studying Elementary Science Honored
- How Can Schools Create Ideal Environments for Teaching and Learning?
Education
PhD, Learning, Teaching, and Diversity, with a specialization in Mathematics and Science Education, Vanderbilt University
BA, Education and Psychology, Swarthmore College
Courses
CH300/515; Methods of Instruction: Elementary 1-6 (Science Section)
ED800; Theories of Learning, Teaching, and Equity
ME 701: Learning Theory and Epistemology in Mathematics and Science Education
Selected Publications
Manz, E., Ward, A., & Wells, A. (2025). Connecting design and experience: Tracing uncertainty through classroom science investigations. Science Education. https://doi.org/10.1002/sce.70015
Manz, E. (2025). Productive uncertainty in science education: Engaging students in meaningful science practice. NSTA Press & Teachers’ College Press. https://www.tcpress.com/productive-uncertainty-in-science-education-9780807786840
Ward, A., Manz, E., and Salgado, M. (2023). Project-based learning: A justice-oriented pathway for meaningful science and literacy integration. Language Arts, 100 (4), 317-322.
Watkins, J. and Manz, E. (2022). Characterizing pedagogical decisions and sense-making conversations motivated by scientific uncertainty. Science Education, 106 (6), 1408-1441.
Schwarz, C., Ki, L, Salgado, M., and Manz, E. (2022). Beyond assessing knowledge about models and modeling: Moving towards expansive, meaningful and equitable modeling practice. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 59(6), 1086– 1096. https://par.nsf.gov/servlets/purl/10322998
Manz, E., Lehrer, R., and Schauble, L. (2020). Rethinking the classroom science investigation. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 57(7), 1148-1174. https://par.nsf.gov/servlets/purl/10149209
Manz, E. and Suarez, E. (2018). Supporting teachers to negotiate uncertainty for science, students, and teaching. Science Education, 102(4), 771-795.
Selected Presentations
Manz, E., Stoler, A., and Diaz-Silveira, G. (March 13, 2025). Productive uncertainty in science classrooms: Why? how? [Presentation]. MA DESE STE District Leaders Network Meeting, Massachusetts, United States. www.investigationsproject.org
Stronger Together: Connecting science and literacy in young children’s learning. Invited webinar to the George National Science Teachers’ Association Chapter. November 16, 2022.
Manz, E., Georgen, C., and Beckert, B. (2022, March). Collaborative development of tools to address content-practice tensions in classroom science investigations. In Haverly, C. (Chair), Engaging with Curricular Infrastructure to Support Elementary Science Teacher Learning and Identity Development. NARST Annual Conference, Vancouver, BC.
Rethinking the classroom science investigation: Design research with children and teachers. Invited speaker, Northern Arizona University STEM Speaker series. April 13, 2021. https://nau.edu/department-of-stem-education/stem-seminars/
Productive uncertainty in the science classroom. Invited speaker, Math for America STEM Wednesday Webinar Series: Powerful Ideas in STEM Education for the Classroom. March 10, 2021.