Lynne Zummo

Lynne Zummo is an Assistant Professor of Learning Sciences at the University of Utah and Curator of Learning Sciences at the NHMU.

Dr. Zummo studies how people learn. Specifically, Lynne tries to understand how people’s backgrounds and ideas about themselves influence how they make sense of science-related social issues, like climate change. To do this, she studies what people do and say when participating in learning activities together, both in classrooms and in informal contexts, from museums to digital spaces. Ultimately, the goal of Lynne’s research is to inform the design of new learning environments and activities that support all people in making sense of their worlds in ways that align both with who they are and with science.

Prior to earning a PhD in Science Education from Stanford University, Lynne worked as a high school science teacher in Washington, DC. In addition to research at the University of Utah, Lynne works with undergraduates in the pre-service secondary science teaching program, eagerly supporting the next generation of enthusiastic, effective science teachers. Before entering the world of teaching, Lynne earned a BA and an MS in Geology, worked seasonally in the New England backcountry, and established a love for running steep, rocky trails.