PhD (Otago), MSc, BSc (Hons) (London)
Tel +64 3 479 4102
Location Science II, Gc3
Email dwarren@chemistry.otago.ac.nz
Teaching Responsibilities
- Coordination of Summer School CHEM191
- Coordination of the Chemistry Outreach programme
Research Interests
With a background in high school chemistry teaching and as coordinator for the chemistry outreach programme my research interests are in chemical education, especially the topical area of 'science communication'. Within the OECD the numbers of school students taking science topics has fallen drastically over the last 20 years. The response has been the growth of science 'edu-tainment' in an effort to capture the imagination of young audiences. However, such programs frequently target 'safe' audiences that are already engaged with science. Our community based outreach programme targets rural and low-decile schools with a hands on approach delivered by our own chemistry students. These are audiences who traditionally don't engage with science, who don't see science as relevant to their lives and who represent the lowest achievement rates at NCEA. Recently we have had the opportunity to extend this programme and currently have two projects in Taiwan and Malaysia.
Current research is focussed on two areas: firstly, the development of hands on activities for use with school groups; secondly, the learning and development of self-efficacy amongst the department students who are involved in delivering the outreach programme.
In recent years my interest has been the use of overseas outreach visits how they can be used to develop students into global citizens.
For more information about the Chemistry Outreach programme https://blogs.otago.ac.nz/chemoutreach/
Two videos made by our partners give an overview and impression of these trips
2017 trip to Bario, Sarawak. https://youtu.be/9wJg9_Ihomo
2016 trip to the Madam Curie Chemistry campo in Taiwan. https://youtu.be/lL3HeB4qcT8