1930
Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Joseph Daniel and Anna Novak.
1952
Receives a Bachelor of Science from the University of Minnesota, and becomes teaching assistant.
1953
Marries Joan Owen.
1954
Receives a Master of Arts from the University of Minnesota.
1956
Becomes an instructor at the University of Minnesota.
1957
Becomes an assistant professor at Kansas State Teachers College.
1958
Receives a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Minnesota.
1959
Becomes an assistant professor at Purdue University.
1962
Is promoted to associate professor at Purdue University.
1967
Becomes a full professor at Cornell University.
1968
Serves as president of the National Association of Research in Science Teaching.
1980
Travels to Australia as a Fulbright-Hayes Senior Scholar.
1990
Receives the Outstanding Contributions in Science Teaching through Research Award from the National Association of Research in Science Teaching.
1995
Becomes Professor Emeritus of plant biology and science education at Cornell University.
1995
Becomes Senior Research Scientist with the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition and Consultant to Procter & Gamble.
1998
Receives an honorary doctorate from the University of Comahue in Neuquen, Argentina.
2002
Receives an honorary doctorate from the Public University of Navarre in Navarre, Spain.
2003
Receives the Charles E. Bessey Award from the Botanical Society of America.
2006
Receives an honorary doctorate from the University of Urbino in Italy.
2018
Receives the Distinguished Research Scientist Emeritus Award from the Florida Institute for Human Machine Cognition.