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Rebecca W. Keller, Ph.D., incorporated Gravitas Publications Inc.[1] in 2003 to develop and publish core sciences curriculum under the Real Science-4-Kids [2] imprint. She has authored and published Real Science-4-Kids student texts, teacher manuals, and student laboratory workbooks in chemistry, biology and physics for the home school, private, and public school markets. Her textbooks serve kindergarten through eighth grade.

In 2008, Keller wrote and directed the development of a series of interdisciplinary companion texts called Kogs-4-Kids™ [3], which show how science is connected closely to all other areas of study and how it affects everyday life. The categories for the Kogs series are: history, language, philosophy, arts, technology, and critical thinking.

An advocate of “open inquiry” in science, Keller has often spoken about and provided testimony on the positive effects of allowing students to “critically evaluate” all scientific data that support and/or oppose scientific conclusions. Her textbooks present students with up-to-date scientific facts and the steps of the scientific method, together with the critical thinking tools needed to help students evaluate scientific conclusions. Dr. Keller’s books are as philosophically neutral as possible and do not impose any single overall philosophical interpretation such as Darwinism, Intelligent Design, or Creationism. Instead, they allow students to make up their own minds about what the data show.

Her view has been summarized in her GravitasGeeks blog as: “In the sciences, let’s teach what we know, and admit what we do not actually know. Let’s train children to explore authentic inquiry, evaluate the evidence, and decide for themselves what conclusions they might draw. There is nothing more important for children studying science than to learn to ask ‘What if?’ and then to be free to follow the data wherever it leads.”^[1]

1 Background
2 Books – Textbooks Written
3 Articles – Scientific Journals
4 Education
5 Professional Experience
6 Related Work and Service
7 Related Web Sites and Blogs
8 References

[edit] Background

Dr. Rebecca W. Keller didn’t set out to be an author. A former research assistant professor at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, Dr. Keller worked in the molecular biology field. Her background in biophysics, molecular biology and neuroscience coupled with her love of the dramatic led her to prepare interesting “labs” for her children and neighbors. As a home-school mom, she developed Real Science-4-Kids after searching for a science curriculum that taught solid science concepts in a manner understandable for youngsters.

In 2001 she began to develop a formalized training program to equip non-science teachers (usually other moms) to feel comfortable with the material. Today Real Science-4-Kids is being taught in 50 states as well as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Europe, Japan and Korea. Keller’s team continues to develop and test products.^[2]

[edit] Books – Textbooks Written

Real Science-4-Kids, Kogs-4-Kids, Chemistry Level I Connects Teacher’s Manual, Gravitas Publications, Inc. 2008
Real Science-4-Kids, Kogs-4-Kids, Chemistry Level I Connects to The Arts, Gravitas Publications, Inc. 2008
Real Science-4-Kids, Kogs-4-Kids, Chemistry Level I Connects to Language, Gravitas Publications, Inc. 2008
Real Science-4-Kids, Kogs-4-Kids, Chemistry Level I Connects to Technology, Gravitas Publications, Inc. 2008
Real Science-4-Kids, Kogs-4-Kids, Chemistry Level I Connects to History, Gravitas Publications, Inc. 2008
Real Science-4-Kids, Kogs-4-Kids, Chemistry Level I Connects to Philosophy, Gravitas Publications, Inc. 2008
Real Science-4-Kids, Kogs-4-Kids, Chemistry Level I Connects to Critical Thinking, Gravitas Publications, Inc. 2008
Real Science-4-Kids Biology Pre-Level I, Gravitas Publications, Inc. 2008.
Real Science-4-Kids Biology Pre-Level I Laboratory Workbook, Gravitas Publications, Inc. 2008.
Real Science-4-Kids Biology Pre- Level I Teacher’s Manual, Gravitas Publications, Inc. 2008
Real Science-4-Kids Biology Level I, Gravitas Publications, Inc. 2007.
Real Science-4-Kids Biology Level I Laboratory Workbook, Gravitas Publications, Inc. 2007.
Real Science-4-Kids Biology Level I Teacher’s Manual, Gravitas Publications, Inc. 2007.
Real Science-4-Kids Physics Level I, Gravitas Publications, Inc. 2007.
Real Science-4-Kids Physics Level I Laboratory Workbook, Gravitas Publications, Inc. 2007.
Real Science-4-Kids Physics Level I Teacher’s Manual, Gravitas Publications, Inc. 2007.
Real Science-4-Kids Chemistry Pre-Level I, Gravitas Publications, Inc. 2007.
Real Science-4-Kids Chemistry Pre-Level I Laboratory Workbook, Gravitas Publications, Inc. 2007.
Real Science-4-Kids Chemistry Pre- Level I Teacher’s Manual, Gravitas Publications, Inc. 2007.
Real Science-4-Kids Chemistry Level I, Gravitas Publications, Inc. 2006.
Real Science-4-Kids Chemistry Level I Laboratory Workbook, Gravitas Publications, Inc. 2006.
Real Science-4-Kids Chemistry Level I Teacher’s Manual, Gravitas Publications, Inc. 2006.
Real Science-4-Kids Physics Level II, Gravitas Publications, Inc. 2006.
Real Science-4-Kids Physics Level II Laboratory Workbook, Gravitas Publications, Inc. 2006.
Real Science-4-Kids Physics Level II Teacher’s Manual, Gravitas Publications, Inc. 2006.
Real Science-4-Kids Level I Combined Teacher’s Manual, Gravitas Publications, Inc. 2006

[edit] Articles – Scientific Journals

Keller, D, Bustamante, C., and Keller, R.W., Imaging of Single Uncoated DNA Molecules by Scanning Tunneling Microscopy. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 86, 5356-5360 (1989).

Keller, R.W., Dunlap, D.D., Bustamante, C., Keller, D.J., Garcia, R.G. Gray, C. and Maestre, M.F., Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Images of Metal-Coated Bacteriophages and Uncoated Double-Stranded DNA., J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A8 (1), 706-712 (1990).

Keller, R.W., Bear, D., and Bustamante, C., A method for Imaging E.coli RNA polymerase with the Scanning Tunneling Microscope in an Aqueous Environment. J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B 9(2), 1291-1299 (1991).

Keller, R.W., Keller, D.J., Bear, D., Vasenka, J., and Bustamante, C., Electrodeposition Procedure of E. coli RNA polymerase onto Gold and Deposition of E. coli RNA polymerase onto Mica for Observation with Scanning Force Microscopy, Ultramicroscopy 42, 1173-1180 (1992).

Bustamante, C., Vesenka, J., Tang, C.L., Rees, W.A., Guthold, M., and Keller, R.W., Circular DNA Molecules Imaged in Air by Scanning Force Microscopy. Biochemistry, 31 22-26 (1992).

Rees, W.A., Keller, R.W., Vesenka, J., Guoling, Y., and Bustamante, C. Scanning Force Microscopy Imaging of Transcription Complexes: Evidence of DNA Bending in Open Promoter and Elongation Complexes Science 260 1646-1649 (1993).

Keller, R. W. Kuehn, U., Aragon, M., Bornikova, L, Wahle, E. and Bear, D.G. The Nuclear Poly (A) Binding Protein, PABP2, Forms an Oligomeric Particle Covering the Length of the Poly(A)Tail .J. Mol. Biol., 297 569-583 (2000)

Postow, L, Ullsperger, C., Keller, R.W., Bustamante, C., Vologodskii, A, and Cozzarelli, N.R.Positive Torsional Strain Causes the Formation of a Four-way Junction at Replication Forks, J.Biol. Chem. Oct 30, manuscript number M006736200 (2000)

[edit] Education

1985 BS Chemistry, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM
1992 PhD Biophysical Chemistry, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
1994 - 1998 Post-Doc Molecular Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
1998 - 1999 Post-Doc Molecular Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley CA

[edit] Professional Experience

Gravitas Publications, Inc.
2003-Present
President/CEO
Author Real Science-4-Kids
In 2003 incorporated Gravitas Publications Inc. a company that engages in curriculum development and publishes Real Science-4-Kids for the home school, private, and public school markets. Authored and published Real Science-4-Kids student texts, teachers manuals, and student laboratory workbooks.

Department of Chemistry, University of New Mexico
2001-2005
Research Assistant Professor Coordinated research with graduate students, post-doctoral assistants, and undergraduate students. Supervised several projects involving subcloning of HIV Reverse Transcriptase, AFM imaging of constructs, and protein assays.

Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico
2000-2001
Post-doc/lab manager Conducted research involving HUD protein on poly (A) tails. Performed in vitro RNA assays using HUD protein on nascent and synthetic poly(A) tails.

Department of Molecular and Cell Biology
University of California at Berkeley
1999-2000
Postdoctoral Fellow Programs in Mathematics and Molecular Biology, Burrough’s Wellcome Fund Scholar Conducted research involving the extraction and AFM imaging of Xenopus condensin protein.

Department of Cell Biology, University of New Mexico 1994-1998 Postdoctoral Fellow NIH Postdoctoral Fellow [NRSA GM16914-02] Conducted research involving the poly(A) binding protein PABII on poly(A) tails.

[edit] Related Work and Service

Columbia, South Carolina January 23, 2006 Was invited by Senator Mike Fair to testify before the Education Oversight Committee in favor of language to allow students to “critically evaluate” all scientific data.

Santa Fe, New Mexico August 29, 2003 Member of the Framework Committee and Writing Team for revision of the 2003 New Mexico Science Standards. Presented before Education Department in favor of the revised New Mexico State Science Standards.

Socorro, New Mexico 1995-2001 Judge and Chairman, Junior Microbiology Division, New Mexico State Science Fair