Duane S. Nickell

Duane S. Nickell was born in 1958 and raised in Paducah, Kentucky. He developed an interest in science at an early age as a result of his dad telling him about the amazing things he learned in an astronomy class. As a teen, Nickell read every science book he could lay his hands on, especially if it was written by Isaac Asimov or Carl Sagan. Nickell attended DePauw University where he double majored in physics and mathematics. He went on to earn a doctoral degree in education from Indiana University. Nickell taught physics at the high school and college level in Indianapolis until his retirement in 2017. He is a recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching, the nation's highest honor for science and mathematics teachers. He is past president of the Hoosier Association of Science Teachers (HASTI) and the Indiana Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers (IN-AAPT). He is also a long time member of Mensa. Nickell lives in Indianapolis with his wife, Karen Markman, and some cats.