Research

The Centre for Learning and Teaching (CLT) contains the Institute for Science Education and Communication (ISEC), which carries two research areas:

• STEM Education and Communication, led by prof. dr. Lucy Avraamidou; and
• Citizen Science, led by dr. Mohammad Gharesifard.

The Institute for Science Education and Communication (ISEC) is an international research group with experts in science education and communication. It currently employs a Full Professor (prof. dr. Avraamidou), and Assistant Professor (dr. Gharesifard), two postdocs, 9 PhD candidates, part-time lecturers and a professor emeritus (prof. Goedhart).

The overarching goal of the research program is to widen (increase the numbers) and diversify (increase the diversity) STEM engagement of all citizens in formal (e.g. university) and informal settings (e.g. community). This can be achieved through high quality university and school STEM education. We do that through different types of projects (i.e. exploratory research, curriculum design and evaluation with schools, impact evaluation of public engagement events) in collaboration with research units, NGOs and community centers (i.e. Beijum community centre), outreach teams (i.e. ScienceLinX) and schools (i.e. the Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health).

ISEC’s research includes:

• Science Identity
• Science Teacher Identity
• AI Literacy
• AI Ethics
• Sustainability
• Climate Change
• STEM Education
• Science Museums
• Teacher Education
• Emotions in Science Education
• Inquiry-based Science Education
• Science Communication
• Citizen Science
• Cultural and gender issues in science
• Social and Cultural Issues in Mathematics Education

Citizen Science

Our research on citizen science addresses both the social and technical aspects of the field. We study how citizen science can contribute to scientific research across various disciplines, with a particular emphasis on water, environment, and climate. Our work also explores the intersection of citizen science with science communication and education. 

Key research areas include the dynamics of establishing and sustaining citizen science projects, public engagement strategies, participant motivations, inclusivity, ethical considerations, and the impacts of these initiatives. Additionally, we examine how citizen science fosters open science, supports sustainable development goals, and integrates into higher education curricula. Through these diverse topics, we aim to enhance public participation in science and generate broader societal benefits.