Meet the Founder

Hi, I’m Nesrine El Banna—founder of Science BC.

I am a researcher, assessment specialist, and BC-certified teacher with over 20 years in education. I’m also a mom of two and deeply passionate about creating better learning experiences for kids.

Science BC brings together everything I’ve learned as a teacher and academic. Every course is grounded in research and experience, designed with care, and built to support real growth—not just grades.

My mission? To empower students through purposeful, student-led learning that’s practical, engaging, and rooted in the latest educational research.
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Graduate Studies

  • PhD student in Curriculum and Pedagogy at University of British Columbia

  • Masters Degree in Measurement, Evaluation and Research Methodology - University of British Columbia 
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Certificates and Diplomas 

  • BC Certified Teacher - Ministry of Education, BC, Canada
  • Post-Graduate Certificate in Education 
  • Teaching Diploma - Teaching Science In Secondary Schools
  • CIRTL Associate at the Centre of Integrated Research, Teaching, and Learning at UBC
  • Bachelor of Science in Biology

RESEARCH INTERESTS

  • Learner Agency
  • Assessment
  • Self-regulated Learning
  • Game-based Assessment
  • Validity Theory and Validation Practices
  • Science education
  • Curriculum Studies 

Awards

  • President's Academic Excellence Initiative PhD Award #6817 - September 2022
  • President's Academic Excellence Initiative PhD Award #6817 - May 2022
  • President's Academic Excellence Initiative PhD Award #6817 - September 2023
  • Graduate Scholarship in Curriculum Studies - September 2023
  • President's Academic Excellence Initiative PhD Award #6817 - May 2024
  • David Bateson Prize In Science Education - April 2025

PUBLICATIONS AND CONFERENCES

  • Code, J., El Banna, N., & Zumbo, B. (in prep) Rethinking validity: Validation of the Assessment For Learning Questionnaire.  Journal of Science Education and Technology.   
  • El Banna, N. (2024, June 14) Agency of learning in middle school science inquiry: A validation study of the AFLQ.  Canadian Society for the Study of Education, McGill University, Quebec, Canada.
  • El Banna, N, (2024, March 15). Empowering minds: Cultivating agency in middle school science inquiry. 11th Education Graduate Students Conference, the University of British Columbia, BC, Canada. 
  • El Banna, N. (2023, March 24). Exploring the theory and praxis of validity in educational assessment [Conference Session]. 10th Education Graduate Students Conference, the University of British Columbia, BC, Canada. 
  • Zumbo, B.D., Michalos, A.C., El Banna, N. (2022). Michalos-Zumbo Well-Being Index. In Filomena Maggino (Ed.) Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research (pp. 1-7). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69909-7_1801-2  
  • El Banna, N. (2020). Issues in estimating reliability in complex assessments: Computerized adaptive tests and testlets (Research Report 2020-02). Vancouver, BC: UBC Paragon Research Initiative, Statistical Science of Measurement.  
  • El Banna, N. (2020). Rater-moderated assessments (Research Report 2020-01). Vancouver, BC: UBC Paragon Research Initiative, Statistical Science of Measurement.  

ALIVE LAb

A member of the Agency and Learning in Immersive Virtual Environments (ALIVE). 

ALIVE is a research program that explores the fascinating realms of open world game-based environments and how they enable agency for learning. 
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