Dr Victoria Brennan
School of Education
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Professional and Social Studies
School: School of Education
Email address: V.K.Brennan@ljmu.ac.uk
Telephone: 0151 904 6459
Victoria Brennan is a former science teacher and current Senior Lecturer within the School of Education at Liverpool John Moores University, UK.
Victoria's research focuses upon science education and engaging underrepresented demographics in science. Upon undertaking her MSc in Science in Society, which focused on engaging girls in physics, Victoria’s PhD focused upon participation of learners from lower socio-economic backgrounds and how outreach activities may be used to engage learning and continuation in post-compulsory science. Thus, exploring the idea of diversity in STEM, social justice and building science capital encapsulate her research interests and experiences.
Whilst also focusing on supporting and developing future science teachers, along with research and scholarship within her role as a Senior Lecturer, Victoria still engages in science outreach events with school-aged learners. Victoria is part of the LJMU ‘Absolute Chemistry’ team which was derived from a 5-year longitudinal chemistry outreach project funded by the Royal Society of Chemistry entitled ‘Chemistry for All’. Being able to still engage in working with younger science learners, educating teachers and researching science education means Victoria continues to have a holistic approach to the constant improvement of the design and instruction of science.
Degrees
2021, Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom, PhD
Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom, BSc Primary and secondary Education with Science (with QTS)
Open University, United Kingdom, MSc Science in Society
Journal article
Brennan VK, Mallaburn A, Seton L. 2018. Teachers’ perception of chemistry outreach work, especially in the context of children’s social demography Teacher Education Advancement Network Journal, 10 :3-14 Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Thesis/Dissertation
Brennan V. Devising a unique model for science outreach programmes with critical engagement from teachers across the 5-19 age range Mallaburn A, Seton L, Tracy F. Public Url
Research Grants Awarded:
OfS UniConnect (Shaping Futures), Absolute Chemistry, Skills Development Y11, Andrea Mallaburn; Victoria Brennan; Hannah Williams; Menna Goodwin, Grant value (£): £8, 734, Duration of research project: 8 months. 2021
Royal Society of Chemistry, Chemistry for All outreach grants: putting research into practice, Andrea Mallaburn, Victoria Brennan, Grant value (£): £24,993, Duration of research project: 24 Months. 2021
Conference presentation:
"My Zoom Time" 1:1 support over zoom for children with a parent in prison during the Covid-19 Pandemic UK Lockdown, Children of Incarcerated Parents: Striving and Thriving and Making a Difference, International Online, Oral presentation. 2021
Inspiration leads to Aspiration: Improving Chemistry Literacy for Learners with a low Socioeconomic status, 12th annual International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies, Virtual (International - Spain), Oral presentation. 2020
DEVISING A UNIQUE MODEL FOR SCIENCE OUTREACH PROGRAMMES WITH CRITICAL ENGAGEMENT FROM TEACHERS ACROSS THE 5-19 AGE RANGE, 11th International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies, Palma, Spain, Oral presentation. 2019
Teachers’ perception of physical science outreach work as a tool to increase enthusiasm and engagement particularly students from socially deprived areas, Variety in Chemistry Education and Physics Higher Education Conference, University of York, Oral presentation. 2017
Teachers’ perception of chemistry outreach work as an intervention tool which can have a lasting impact; particularly with pupils from a lower socio-economic background, 8th TEAN Conference: Thinking deeply about Teacher Education, Aston University, Birmingham, Oral presentation. 2017
External committees:
Network for Emergent Socio-scientific Thinking (NESST), Smithsonian Science Education Centre, Committee member, https://ssec.si.edu/sustainable-development. 2021
Other Professional Activity:
International Scientific Advisory Board for EDULEARN conference 2020 onwards.. 2020