Dr Victoria Brennan
School of Education
Faculty of Arts Professional and Social Studies
Email: 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
Certifications
Higher Education Academy, AFHEA
Journal article
O’Donnell C, Blanchard KP, Strom KJ, D’Amico A, Mogck A, Alcazar R, Brennan V, Elsayed A, Fitzgerald A, Greenbaum E, Osman E, Sepiurka M. 2024. The Network for Emergent Socio-Scientific Thinking (NESST): collaboration for a shared transformative future through STEM Education Sustainable Earth Reviews, 7 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
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
Conference publication
Mallaburn A, Seton L, Brennan V. 2022. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR PRIMARY TEACHERS - FOSTERING CURIOSITY FOR LEARNING SCIENCE THROUGH INSPIRATIONAL SESSIONS! EDULEARN Proceedings, 14th International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies 1 :3726-3726 DOI Publisher Url
Mallaburn A, Seton L, Brennan V. 2021. WIDENING PARTICIPATION BY EFFECTIVE OUTREACH IN CHEMISTRY EDULEARN Proceedings, 13th International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies 1 :10729-10729 DOI Publisher Url
Mallaburn A, Seton L, Brennan V. 2020. INSPIRATION LEADS TO ASPIRATION: IMPROVING CHEMISTRY LITERACY FOR LEARNERS WITH A LOW SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS EDULEARN Proceedings, 12th International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies 1 :997-997 DOI Publisher Url
Brennan V, Mallaburn A, Seton L. 2019. DEVISING A UNIQUE MODEL FOR SCIENCE OUTREACH PROGRAMMES WITH CRITICAL ENGAGEMENT FROM TEACHERS ACROSS THE 5-19 AGE RANGE Chova LG, Martinez AL, Torres IC. EDULEARN19: 11TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON EDUCATION AND NEW LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES, 11th International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies (EDULEARN) :3972-3972 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
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
Thesis/Dissertation
Brennan V. 2021. 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
Chapters
Brennan V. Metamorphosis of a HE Identity: The process of actively unlearning to build a sense of belonging Antoniadou M, Crowder M. Belonging in the Workplace: Perspectives and Practices Edward Elgar Publishing
Research Grants Awarded:
Duration of research project: 8 months, Grant value (£): £8, 734, OfS UniConnect (Shaping Futures), Andrea Mallaburn; Victoria Brennan; Hannah Williams; Menna Goodwin, Absolute Chemistry, Skills Development Y11. 2021
Duration of research project: 24 Months, Grant value (£): £24,993, Royal Society of Chemistry, Andrea Mallaburn, Victoria Brennan, Chemistry for All outreach grants: putting research into practice. 2021
Conference presentation:
Oral presentation, International Online, Children of Incarcerated Parents: Striving and Thriving and Making a Difference, "My Zoom Time" 1:1 support over zoom for children with a parent in prison during the Covid-19 Pandemic UK Lockdown. 2021
Oral presentation, Virtual (International - Spain), 12th Annual International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies, Inspiration leads to Aspiration: Improving Chemistry Literacy for Learners with a low Socioeconomic status. 2020
Oral presentation, Palma, Spain, 11th International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies, DEVISING A UNIQUE MODEL FOR SCIENCE OUTREACH PROGRAMMES WITH CRITICAL ENGAGEMENT FROM TEACHERS ACROSS THE 5-19 AGE RANGE. 2019
Oral presentation, University of York, Variety in Chemistry Education and Physics Higher Education Conference, Teachers’ perception of physical science outreach work as a tool to increase enthusiasm and engagement particularly students from socially deprived areas. 2017
Oral presentation, Aston University, Birmingham, 8th TEAN Conference: Thinking deeply about Teacher Education, 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. 2017
External committees:
Smithsonian Science Education Centre, Committee member, Network for Emergent Socio-scientific Thinking (NESST), https://ssec.si.edu/sustainable-development. 2021
Other Professional Activity:
International Scientific Advisory Board for EDULEARN conference 2020 onwards.. 2020