Yael Shtechman is a PhD student in the Department of Science Teaching at the Weizmann Institute of Science under the supervision of Dr. Michal Haskel-Ittah. She holds a BSc in Plant Sciences in Agriculture from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and an MSc in Science Teaching from the Weizmann Institute of Science.
In her PhD research, Yael investigates how elementary school students understand plants, develop mechanistic explanations of biological phenomena, and apply their knowledge when reasoning about socio-scientific issues involving trees and the environment. Her work explores the relationships between plant awareness, biological knowledge, and decision-making to support meaningful sustainability education from an early age.
Beyond her research, Yael is interested in science communication and environmental education. She enjoys spending time with her family, exploring nature, gardening, and finding ways to connect everyday experiences with science learning. She is committed to making sustainability and plant science accessible to diverse audiences.