Louisa Tomas Engel

A/Prof. Louisa Tomas Engel, B.Ed./B.Sc. (Hons.), Ph.D., began her educational career as a secondary science teacher before she commenced her current appointment in Education at James Cook University, Townsville, in 2009. She is currently Associate Dean, Research Education for the College of Arts, Society and Education, and is an appointed member of the University's Academic Board, serving in the capacity of Academic Expert – Scholarship.

Louisa's teaching and research has focused on areas of Science and Sustainability Education. Her research primarily explores curricula and pedagogical approaches that engage diverse students in the learning of science and enhance the development of scientific literacy. She was part of a team of researchers that worked with local high schools as part of an Australian Research Council Linkage Grant (led by QUT) that has investigated school students’ emotional engagement with socioscientific issues.

Most recently, Louisa has developed a program of research that has explored effective pedagogical approaches for Science and Sustainability Education in pre-service teacher education. This research has explored flipped classroom and blended learning approaches, and has been funded, in part, by a James Cook University Teaching and Learning Development Grant. The goal of this research is to inform best practice regarding teaching and learning in Science and Sustainability Pre-service Teacher Education, so as to better support the learning and success of our first year pre-service teachers.

Louisa's teaching and research in this field has been recognised by way of a number of awards, including a JCU TropEco Award for enhancing Education for Sustainability in learning, teaching and research, two JCU Citations and a National Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning.