Louisa Tomas Engel
- louisa.tomas@jcu.edu.au
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5247-4089- Associate Dean, Research Education
- College of Arts, Society & Education
Projects
1
Publications
42
Awards
11
Biography
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 is also a Senior Fellow of Advance HE; a board member of the Australian Council of Deans of Education (ACDE); and Chair of the Community of Associate Deans of Research in Education (cADRE), a network of the ACDE.
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 is currently leading the developing of one of the University's 10 Research Directions, RD10: Enhancing Equity & Social Justice for Regional, Rural and Remote Communities.
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.
Research
Research Interests
Innovative pedagogical strategies (including diversified writing-to-learn strategies) that support the development of scientific literacy and enhance student engagement in science learning, particularly in the middle school
Socioscientific issues education
The relationship between affect, student engagement, and the achievement of scientific literacy
Education for sustainability and preservice teacher education
Projects
Earth and Environmental Science: Unpacking the Curriculum and Teachers’ Dispositions (Old ID 23510)
01 Jul 2017 - 03 Dec 2018
Teaching
Teaching Interests
Curriculum and pedagogy
Science education
Sustainability education
Current JCU Research Students
Educational Leadership for a Better World in the International Context;Research interests include - Leadership Models, Leadership and Gender, Leadership for the Future and Leadership within the International Baccalaureate context
Doctor of Philosophy (Education)
Activities
Awards
Employment
Senior Lecturer, James Cook University
2013 - 2017
Lecturer, James Cook University
2009 - 2012
Associations
Australian Science Teachers Association
2017 - 2022
Science Teachers' Association of Queensland
2017 - 2022
Queensland College of Teachers
2004 - 2026
School Board, Ryan Catholic College
2022 - 2024
Academic Board, James Cook University
2022 - 2026
Queensland College of Teachers
2022 - 2024
Australian Research Council
2016 - 2026
Townsville Catholic Education
2021 - 2025
Output
Manathunga, C.; Tomas Engel, L.; Sellar, S.; Dooley, K.; Smith, L.; McIllwain, L.; Gannon, S.; Fraser, S.; Mason, J. (2025) cADRE National Report on the State of Education Research. Canberra, ACT, Australia: [Report]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Buchanan, Trevor; Tomas, Louisa (2019) Ready to lead? An exploration of principal preparation from a global to local context. London, UK: [Non-Research Book Chapter]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Tomas, Louisa; Jackson, Clifford; Carlisle, Karen (2012) ATSE Wonder of Science Evaluation Report. [Report]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Navin, Fiona; Hill, Angela; Dalley-Trim, Leanne; Tomas, Louisa; Moore, Sharon (2011) Stronger, Smarter Learning Communities, Atherton Hub: a case study of Atherton State High School, Atherton State School, Kuranda State School and Herberton State School. [Report]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Tomas, Louisa; Hill, Angela; Navin, Fiona; Hughes, Bridget; Peyton-Smith, Kim; Moore, Sharon (2011) Stronger, Smarter Learning Communities, Ingham Hub: a case study of Ingham State High School, Ingham State School, Halifax State School and Toobanna State School. [Report]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Tomas, Louisa (2010) Merging fact with fiction: A study of year 9 students' developing scientific literacy through the writing of hybridised scientific narratives on a socioscientific issue. [Thesis]
Other Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Bellocchi, Alberto; Mills, Reece; Arthars, Natasha; Tomas Engel, Louisa; Appanna, Subhashni; Davis, James; Rebello de Campos, Priscila (2025) 'Preservice Science Teachers' Epistemic Cognition during Online Searching'. Research in Science Education, 55 :1063-1083. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Henderson, Senka; Tomas Engel, Louisa; King, Donna (2025) 'Does Topic Matter? Investigating Students’ Interest, Emotions and Learning when Writing Stories About Socioscientific Issues'. Research in Science Education, 55 :1537-1555. [DOI]
Jefferson, Grace; Henry, Rosita; Heyeres, Marion; Morgan, Rhian; Tomas Engel, Louisa; Tsey, Komla; Zuchowski, Ines (2024) 'Impact through research in education and studies in human society: a review of Australian Research Council 'high-for-impact' case studies'. PLoS ONE, 19 (5). [DOI]
Mills, Reece; Tomas Engel, Louisa (2024) 'How Well Does the F-10 Australian Curriculum Prepare
Students to be Water Literate Citizens?'. Australian Journal of Environmental Education, 40 (5):831-844. [DOI]
Mills, Reece; Whiteford, Crystal; Brown, Daniel; Tomas, Louisa (2023) 'The efficacy of the Dimensions of Attitudes toward Science (DAS) for explaining primary preservice teachers’ intention to teach science'. International Journal of Science Education, 45 (3):165-180. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Tomas, Louisa; Mills, Reece; Gibson, Fiona (2022) '“It’s kind of like a cut and paste of the syllabus”: a teacher’s experience of enacting the Queensland Earth and Environmental Science syllabus, and implications for education for sustainable development'. Australian Educational Researcher, 49 :445-461. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Mills, Reece; Tomas, Louisa (2020) 'Realising the sustainability cross-curriculum priority through action-orientated and transformative geography education'. Geographical Education, 33 :11-17.
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Tomas, Louisa; Mills, Reece; Rigano, Donna; Sandhu, Maryam (2020) 'Education for sustainable development in the senior Earth and Environmental Science syllabus in Queensland, Australia'. Australian Journal of Environmental Education, 36 (1):44-62. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Mills, Reece; Tomas, Louisa; Whiteford, Chrystal; Lewthwaite, Brian (2020) 'Developing middle school students' interest in learning science and geology through slowmation'. Research in Science Education, 50 (4):1501-1520. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Mills, Reece; Tomas, Louisa; Lewthwaite, Brian (2019) 'The impact of student-constructed animation on middle school students' learning about plate tectonics'. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 28 (2):165-177. [DOI]
Tomas, Louisa; Evans, Neus (Snowy); Doyle, Tanya; Skamp, Keith (2019) 'Are first year students ready for a flipped classroom? A case for a flipped learning continuum'. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 16 (5). [DOI]
Mills, Reece; Tomas, Louisa; Lewthwaite, Brian (2017) 'Junior secondary school students' conceptions about plate tectonics'. International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education, 26 (4):297-310. [DOI]
Tomas, Louisa; Girgenti, Sarah; Jackson, Cliff (2017) 'Pre-service teachers' attitudes toward education for sustainability and its relevance to their learning: implications for pedagogical practice'. Environmental Education Research, 23 (3):324-347. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Evans, Neus (Snowy); Tomas, Louisa; Woods, Cindy (2016) 'Impact of sustainability pedagogies on pre-service teachers' self-efficacy'. The Journal of Education for Sustainable Development, 10 (2):1-19. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Mills, Reece; Tomas, Louisa; Lewthwaite, Brian (2016) 'Learning in Earth and space science: a review of conceptual change instructional approaches'. International Journal of Science Education, 38 (5):767-790. [DOI]
Tomas, Louisa; Rigano, Donna; Ritchie, Stephen M. (2016) 'Students' regulation of their emotions in a science classroom'. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 53 (2):234-260. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Tomas, Louisa; Ritchie, Stephen M. (2015) 'The challenge of evaluating students' scientific literacy in a writing-to-learn context
'. Research in Science Education, 45 (1):41-58. [DOI]
Lasen, Michelle; Tomas, Louisa; Hill, Angela (2015) 'Potential of service-learning to promote sustainability competencies in pre-service teachers: a case study'. Teaching Education, 26 (4):341-365. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Tomas, Louisa; Lasen, Michelle; Field, Ellen; Skamp, Keith (2015) 'Promoting online students' engagement and learning in science and sustainability preservice teacher education'. Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 40 (11):79-107.
Tomas, Louisa; Jackson, Cliff; Carlisle, Karen (2014) 'The transformative potential of engaging in science inquiry-based challenges: the ATSE Wonder of Science Challenge'. Teaching Science, 60 (2):48-57.
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Mills, Reece; Tomas, Louisa (2013) 'Integrating education for sustainability in pre-service teacher education'. Australian Journal of Environmental Education, 29 (2):152-164. [DOI]
Tomas, Louisa; Ritchie, Stephen M. (2012) 'Positive emotional responses to hybridised writing about a socio-scientific issue'. Research in Science Education, 42 (1):25-49. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Tomas, Louisa (2012) 'Writing narratives about socioscientific issues: engaging students and learning science'. Teaching Science, 58 (4):24-28.
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Tomas, Louisa; Ritchie, Stephen M.; Tones, Megan (2011) 'Attitudinal impact of hybridized writing about a socioscientific issue'. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 48 (8):878-900. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Ritchie, Stephen M.; Tomas, Louisa; Tones, Megan (2011) 'Writing stories to enhance scientific literacy'. International Journal of Science Education, 33 (5):685-707. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Tomas, Louisa (2011) 'Merging fact with fiction'. Curriculum Leadership Journal, 9 (5):1-1.
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Mills, Reece; Tomas Engel, Louisa; Lewthwaite, Brian (2015) 'Representing Earth Science concepts through slowmation: influences on conceptual change' Etropic: electronic journal of studies in the tropics, 14 (1) :5-12.
Journal Contribution
ResearchOnline@JCU
Tomas, Louisa; Mills, Reece (2011) Valuing Teacher Education: Policy, Perspectives and Partnerships Pre-service teachers' understanding and concern for sustainability issues: Implications for teacher education Melbourne, VIC, Australia,
Conference Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Tomas, Louisa; Jackson, Cliff; Carlisle, Karen (2013) 44th Annual ASERA Converence The transformative potential of engaging in science inquiry and design-based challenges: the ATSE Wonder of Science Challenge Wellington, New Zealand, .
Conference Contribution
ResearchOnline@JCU
"It made me proud": positive emotional responses to hybridised writing about a socioscientific issue
2011
Tomas, Louisa; Ritchie, Stephen (2011) Biannual conference of the European Science Education Research Association It made me proud: positive emotional responses to hybridised writing about a socioscientific issue Lyon, France, .
Conference Contribution
ResearchOnline@JCU
Tomas, Louisa; Ritchie, Stephen M. (2010) 2010 NARST National Association for Research in Science Teaching Annual International Conference Writing differently about a socioscientific issue: developing students' scientific literacy through the writing of hybridized scientific narratives Philadelphia, PA, USA, .
The resolution of frustration in middle school science classes: the role of the classroom teacher
2018
Tomas, Louisa; King, Donna; Henderson, Senka; Rigano, Donna; Sandhu, Maryam (2018) 'The resolution of frustration in middle school science classes: the role of the classroom teacher' In: Tomas, Louisa, King, Donna, Henderson, Senka, Rigano, Donna, and Sandhu, Maryam (2018) The resolution of frustration in middle school science classes: the role of the classroom teacher. In: Ritchie, Stephen M., and Tobin, Kenneth, (eds.) Eventful Learning: learner emotions. Bold Visions in Educational Research, 61 . Sense Publishers, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, pp. 133-156(Eds.). Eventful Learning: learner emotions. Rotterdam, The Netherlands : Sense Publishers.
Book Chapter
ResearchOnline@JCU
Tomas, Louisa; Rigano, Donna (2018) 'This is not a sex-education class, this is biology!: students' regulation of their emotions in science' In: Tomas, Louisa, and Rigano, Donna (2018) This is not a sex-education class, this is biology!: students' regulation of their emotions in science. In: Ritchie, Stephen M., and Tobin, Kenneth, (eds.) Eventful Learning: learner emotions. Bold Visions in Educational Research, 61 . Brill, Rotterdam, Netherlands, pp. 157-169(Eds.). Eventful Learning: learner emotions. Rotterdam, Netherlands : Brill.
Book Chapter
ResearchOnline@JCU
Lasen, Michelle; Tomas, Louisa; Whitehouse, Hilary; Sorin, Reesa; Evans, Neus; Stevenson, Bob (2015) 'A case study of an Australian university embedding EfS in a pre-service teaching program' In: Lasen, Michelle, Tomas, Louisa, Whitehouse, Hilary, Sorin, Reesa, Evans, Neus, and Stevenson, Bob (2015) A case study of an Australian university embedding EfS in a pre-service teaching program. In: Stratton, Susan K., Hagevik, Rita, Feldman, Allan, and Bloom, Mark, (eds.) Educating Science Teachers for Sustainability. ASTE Series in Science Education . Springer Internationl Publishing Switzerland, Switzerland, pp. 323-346(Eds.). Educating Science Teachers for Sustainability. Switzerland : Springer Internationl Publishing Switzerland. [DOI]
Book Chapter
ResearchOnline@JCU
Ritchie, Stephen M.; Tomas, Louisa (2013) 'Designing an innovative approach to engage students in learning science: the evolving case of hybridized writing' In: Ritchie, Stephen M., and Tomas, Louisa (2013) Designing an innovative approach to engage students in learning science: the evolving case of hybridized writing. In: Shavinina, Larisa V., (ed.) The Routledge International Handbook of Innovation Education. Routledge, New York, NY, USA, pp. 385-395(Eds.). The Routledge International Handbook of Innovation Education. New York, NY, USA : Routledge.
Book Chapter
ResearchOnline@JCU
Ritchie, Stephen M.; Tomas, Louisa (2012) 'Hybridized writing for scientific literacy: pedagogy and evidence' In: Ritchie, Stephen M., and Tomas, Louisa (2012) Hybridized writing for scientific literacy: pedagogy and evidence. In: Gillies, Robyn M., (ed.) Pedagogy: new developments in the learning sciences. Education in a Competitive and Globalizing World . Nova Science Publishers, Hauppauge, NY, USA, pp. 213-226(Eds.). Pedagogy: new developments in the learning sciences. Hauppauge, NY, USA : Nova Science Publishers.