Doing science with fidelity to persons: Instantiations of caring participation in science practices

This paper builds on an emerging line of argument that STEM education should be guided by not only conceptual and epistemological goals, but also axiological ones: attention to the moral and ethical underpinnings that guide learning and participation in scientific and engineering practices. We draw specifically on Noddings’ care theory (1984, 1986), which foregrounds concern for collective well-being and growth. In particular, we explore what a caring orientation can look like in the context of doing science through two paradigmatic cases. These cases highlight how values of receptiveness, responsiveness, and relatedness shape students’ social and epistemic practice. These values challenge canonical versions of science practice and invite reflection on the moral underpinnings of learning science.