Lecturer in Science Education, Sussex School of Education and Social Work, University of Sussex
I graduated in Geology from the University of London and trained as a science teacher at Chelsea College, Centre for Science and Maths Education, University of London. I taught science in North London (Enfield), South London (Croydon) and Surrey. I have worked as a head of biology, head of year and head of science. I entered teacher education in 1997. In 2006 I filmed a six-part TV history/reality series for Channel 4 called 'That'll teach 'em taking the role of the deputy head and housemaster in the fictional Charles Darwin school teaching 30 teenagers 1950s style.
I was awarded Chartered Science Teacher status in September 2008.
My research interests currently revolve around teachers and their knowledge and understanding of 'The Nature of Science' and 'The Scientific Method'. In particular, what do trainee teachers understand about these concepts and ideas in science. This leads to work on a better understanding of the 'Working Scientifically' approach in the new National Curriculum an public examinations.
Linked to this work I also do research on the teaching of Evolution in science and the issues surrounding Creationism in a school based context.
Other research interests involve the publication of the Theory of Evolution by means of Natural selection by Alfred Russel Wallace and Charles Darwin.
Turkey bans teaching of evolution – but there's no better evidence for how life develops
Jun 28, 2017 16:25 pm UTC| Science Law
In the US there have been many attempts to expunge evolution from the school curriculm or demand that creationism the idea that all life was uniquely created by God is given equal treatment in science textbooks. While...
Why both teens and teachers could benefit from later school start times
Mar 02, 2017 02:24 am UTC| Health
A typical school day in the UK starts around 8.30am. This is often even earlier elsewhere in the world, with students sitting down to their first lesson at 7.30am in the US. But these early start times can play havoc...
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