Society needs more and better engineers and STEM teachers. Students’ identity is a key aspect. Building that identity and motivation is the central aim and focus of my research! 

Ruurd Taconis holds an MSc in Physics from Radboud University Nijmegen (1986) and a PhD in Education and Science Education from Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). He worked as research assistant at Utrecht University from 1987 to 1989 and as a physics teacher in secondary education and at the Fontys University of Applied Sciences until 1991. He held the position of researcher and teacher trainer at Eindhoven University from 1989 to 1996 and was a researcher and project leader at Utrecht University from 1994 to 1998. In 1998, Taconis returned to Eindhoven University of Technology where he became Director of Education at the Eindhoven School of Education.