Dr Victoria Brennan

School of Education

Faculty: Faculty of Arts Professional and Social Studies

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

Conference publication

Mallaburn A, Seton L, Brennan V. Improving Delivery of Primary Science Through Teacher Development Horizons in STEM Higher Education Conference 2022 - Making Connections, Innovating and Sharing Pedagogy Author 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

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