Michael Padilla is a leader in middleschool science education. He has served as an editor and electedofficer for the National Science Teachers Association. He has beenprincipal investigator of several National Science Foundation andEisenhower grants and served as a writer of the National ScienceEducation Standards. As lead author of Science Explorer, Mike hasinspired the team in developing a program that meets the needs ofmiddle grades students, promotes science inquiry, and is alignedwith the National Science Education Standards.