Charles Granger

Dr. Charles R. Granger is a professor of biology and education and Curators’ Distinguished Teaching Professor. He has directed eighteen programs in science education, fifteen of which he created on the UM-St. Louis campus. He originated the structure, guided the development, and served as project director of the St. Louis Regional Science and Technology Career Access Center, which was a $3.8 million N.S.F. Career Access Opportunities Project that formed a consortium with St. Louis Public Schools, Harris-Stowe State College, St. Louis Community College, University of Missouri-Rolla, and the University of Missouri-St. Louis as partners. This highly successful, five-year program served some 1,200 students between the grades 3-12 year, and it formed a pipeline of talent and enhanced minority presence in careers in science and technology. 

He has created three major projects for the enhancement of science education in the St. Louis area that could serve as models for national initiatives. The Corner Science Store is a freestanding, private sector-based, satellite facility that incorporates a cascading, pyramidal instructional strategy to change pedagogy and curriculum in science and math in targeted school systems. This project received the St. Louis Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and Construction Products Council Award for Excellence in Unbuilt Projects. He led the N.S.F.-funded RECEPT consortium of six universities and six school systems to restructure math and science teacher preparation as well as school science and math instruction. RECEPT would reach 90% of the K-6 teachers educated in the St. Louis area. 

With Monte C. Throdahl, the Regional Institute for Science Education was established as a partnership for increasing science literacy that involved collaboration between informal science education institutions, schools, higher education, and the private technical community to develop a concerted effort to improve science education in the St. Louis metropolitan area.

Granger has also directed the Junior Science Programs at the University of Missouri, including the Junior Science, Engineering and Humanities Symposium for thirty-nine years. He conceived and directed the George Engelmann Mathematics and Science Institute and Students and Teachers As Research Scientists (STARS) program for high ability high school students that received the first National Anderson Medal for the Business-Higher Education Form and were awarded education partnerships. The Engelmann Institute was also named as a “What Works” exemplary program by the St. Louis Metropolitan Association for Philanthropy and the St. Louis Business Journal.

He directed the Junior Science Programs at the University of Missouri including the Junior Science, Engineering and Humanities Symposium for 39 years.  He conceived and directed the George Engelmann Mathematics and Science Institute and Students and Teachers As Research Scientists (STARS) program for high ability, high school students that received the first National Anderson Medal for the Business-Higher Education Form and award for education partnerships.  The Engelmann Institute was also named as a “What Works” exemplary program by the St. Louis Metropolitan Association for Philanthropy and the St. Louis Business Journal.

Phone: 314-516-6220

Fax: 314-516-6233