Building Community to Bridge Research and Practice: The North Carolina Chemistry Educators and Researchers (NC CER) Group

Abstract

Abstract Communities of practice in chemical education provide networks for fostering collaboration, professional development, and integration of research with classroom practice. Here we describe the growth of the North Carolina Chemistry Educators and Researchers (NC CER) community of practice, a statewide network founded in 2021 that brings together chemistry educators and scholars across institutional contexts and career stages. Today, our community includes more than 60 members from high schools, community colleges, and universities in NC, sustained through monthly virtual meetings and annual in-person symposia. We describe the origins, structure, and activities of NC CER, highlight thematic trends from meetings and symposia, and reflect on strategies that have supported community growth and inclusion. As shown, NC CER offers a model for building regional communities of practice that bridge research and practice, aimed at improving teaching and learning.