From hermit crabs to humus: Heesoon Bai’s contributions to cultural studies in science education

This paper traces Heesoon Bai’s contributions to science education. Over the course of her career, Heesoon has written many scholarly articles that explore the foundational theories relevant to the culture of science education. Drawing from Eastern contemplative traditions, Heesoon aims to repair the separation between subject and object, a dualism that often operates in Western Science. She enjoins an animistic view of the world, where all things are alive and imbued with intrinsic value, and presents a view of education characterized by relational warmth and care. The essay is a compilation of testimonies from students who have worked with Heesoon Bai in the past. We present these accounts as a tribute to an outstanding educator who has made a positive contribution both in the field of science education and to the lives of many students.