The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has recorded another academic milestone following the induction of Professor Mercy Ogunsola-Bandele as a 2026 Fellow of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST), a worldwide organisation advancing science education through research.
The recognition, announced on April 27, 2026, places the Nigerian scholar among five distinguished academics honoured this year for their outstanding contributions to science education research and practice.
Other recipients of the 2026 NARST Fellowship are: Professor Tali Tal of Technion – Israel Institute of Technology; Professor Elizabeth Davis of the University of Michigan, United States; Professor Aslı Sezen-Barrie of the University of California, Irvine, United States; and Professor Umesh Ramnarain of the University of Johannesburg, South Africa.
Professor Ogunsola-Bandele, a Professor of Science Education at NOUN, has served as the Director of the Quality Assurance Directorate and pioneer Acting Dean of the School of Education within the institution.
Although NARST officially listed Professor Ogunsola-Bandele’s fellowship affiliation under Athabasca University, where she holds an adjunct or collaborative research role, her primary academic identity remains rooted at NOUN, where she has spent the bulk of her career.
This dual affiliation reflects the growing trend of Nigerian scholars engaging in international research partnerships without relinquishing their foundational contributions at home.
Her longstanding work at NOUN continues to shape science education across Nigeria’s higher education landscape.
The fellowship is one of NARST’s highest honours, reserved for scholars whose work has made lasting impacts on science teaching and learning internationally.
This recognition is expected to inspire more Nigerian researchers to pursue impactful scholarship capable of influencing global educational development.
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