Dr. Jeremy Hoffman graduated from OSU with a Ph.D. from the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences (CEOAS) studying geology and geophysics as well as a member of the 2014 GCCUT cohort. Since June 2023, Jeremy is the Director of Climate Justice and Impact at Groundwork USA, establishing science-based metrics for project outcomes across climate and workforce development programs.
Jeremy was also a recipient of the Office of Graduate Education's 2011-2012 Provost’s Distinguished Graduate Fellowship.
Q&A with Jeremy Hoffman
Why did you decided to enroll in the GCCUT program?
I chose to enroll in the GCCUT program in addition to my degree in geology because I wanted to learn about learning. I am fascinated by how people (both college-aged students and the general public) integrate new, sometimes dissonant information into their existing world views, especially with relation to scientific concepts. The GCCUT program has provided me with a critical theoretical foundation to begin designing new ways of teaching science in the classroom, online, and in public forums.
In what ways has taking part in the GCCUT program changed your thinking about teaching, learning, or higher education in general?
The GCCUT program has fundamentally changed my thinking on undergraduate and public science education. For most of my life, science classes were taught as mainly lecture-style courses, and most of my friends would exhibit a lack of enthusiasm about going to our science classes. Now, I see how the learning theory we are exposed to in GCCUT can inform purposefully-designed and interactive science courses with very little to no lecturing necessary. I think this outlook on science education is key to inspiring a department to hire me in the near future (I hope!).
Is there anything you would add about your GCCUT experience that you think would interest prospective students?
Don't worry about the "time commitment" for the GCCUT program - it's doable for people of all backgrounds and from all departments. This program will enlighten you in ways your time in lab can't even touch!
Update!
Jeremy's passion for science communication, public engagement, and outreach has lead to his current position as the Climate & Earth Science Specialist at the Science Museum of Virginia as well as Affiliate Faculty in the Center for Environmental Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Please briefly describe your career journey since completing the GCCUT program.
After the GCCUT program and finishing my PhD (2016), I was able to pursue my newfound passion for informal science learning and teaching to a job at the Science Museum of Virginia, where I spent the next 7 years designing and implementing Earth and climate science learning experiences. These experiences included community science campaigns to measure air temperatures, hands-on interactive and digital exhibits focused on ice core technology and science, and a 2500-water bottle display that worked like a large-format screen. I was also able to secure adjunct teaching opportunities at the local Richmond universities and regularly guest lecture for colleagues. I was able to find my next role as the Director for Climate Justice and Impact at Groundwork USA, where I now use my informal learning and teaching experience to design community-engaged research and advocacy campaigns around equitable climate action.
Has GCCUT played a role in your career progression and your work? If so, please elaborate.
Of course it has - the learning science, teaching techniques, and course design classes during the GCCUT regularly inform my work through how I describe my planning to my colleagues to how I implement any particular program, event, or facilitation. I also have incorporated several GCCUT skills into my direct classroom teaching!
Have you utilized knowledge and skills from the GCCUT program in ways you did not necessarily anticipate? If so, please describe.
I still use an exercise where you ask people to write down a drawing of how tides work - Shawn Rowe used it in my "Communicating Ocean Sciences to Informal Audiences" class, and I still use it to get people to think deeply about natural phenomena in talks I give today!
Given your experience, what value do you see in GCCUT for those considering the program?
There is immense value in learning about how people learn because that is useful beyond classroom settings, knowing how to instruct people with different learning needs effectively is good communication practice, and knowing how to design a program to fit your end goals makes you a better manager. All of the skills you learn in GCCUT are transferable beyond classroom applications and will serve you well in any job you choose after OSU.
For potential GCCUT applicants, what advice would you offer them as they consider and begin the program?
Time it right with the rest of your program so that you can really dive into a semester or two of focusing a lot on the GCCUT courses - I used the final two years of my PhD to pursue the GCCUT so that I wouldn't have discipline-specific courses interfering with my schedule. I would also suggest having a clear-eyed discussion with your PI about your intentions with the GCCUT and the time it will take so there aren't any pressure points when you have class but your PI wants a manuscript draft
For new or continuing students, do you have any further advice to help them make the most out of GCCUT?
I would take a course in informal learning - most of a person's learning occurs outside of a classroom so if you can leverage skills that help spur people to learn without a grade you know you're a great teacher! I would also look closely at syllabi for courses you've taken or classes you really liked in your field and make versions of them for yourself - what would you change, what would you add, what would you leave out? Also, try to take an improv comedy course
Is there anything else you would like to say to prospective or current GCCUT students?
This is the time in your career where you can take big risks with relatively little consequence, especially when it comes to GCCUT - try weird stuff, lean into uncomfortable situations, and go volunteer at a museum!