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Overview
Affiliations
AffiliationTelephone
Associate Professor in the School of Education+44 (0) 191 33 44242
Department Representative in the Durham Research Methods Centre
Fellow of the Durham Research Methods Centre
Fellow of the Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing+44 (0) 191 33 44242

Biography

Helen is an Associate Professor in the School of Education at Durham University and Lead for Education Researcher Development in the Durham Centre for Academic Development (DCAD). Her research interests are in skills development in STEM education, with a particular focus on the impact of education environments on learners and educators. She is an expert in the evaluation of education and skills development programmes. Alongside her research, Helen also provides specialist facilitation for individuals to support their development of education research and scholarship. Helen has a passion for creating inclusive education environments where all learners, educators and researchers can thrive.

Helen is Head of the Evaluation and Innovation in STEM Education (EISE) national research group (https://eise.webspace.durham.ac.uk/).

Experience:

  • 20 years experience leading and managing research and education development projects.
  • 15 years experience leading education development and evaluation workshops.
  • 15 years experience teaching in Higher Education and delivering CPD for professionals across the education sector.
  • 15 years experience working with research funders and investors.
  • 10 years experience working with staff to develop their education scholarship and research ideas.
  • 10 years experience leading and managing high performing research groups and communities.

Recent research projects include:

  • Lessons learned from implementing blended and online undergraduate chemistry laboratory teaching during the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • Case study of the rapid development of three Higher Education Professional Learning Networks in response to COVID-19.
  • Evaluation of national pilot Levelling Up Widening Participation programme in STEM.
  • Evaluation of the ESPRC funded Northern Power Inclusion Matters Programme - EDI in the Engineering and Physical Sciences.
  • Investigation into the Impact of COVID on students' self-efficacy in practical science.
  • Evaluation of the SOFI2 Centre for Doctoral Training.
  • Evaluation of the national Creativity Collaboratives programme seeking to improve teaching for creativity across the curriculum in schools across England.

Helen supervises PhD students and Masters students interested in conducting research in skills development and EDI in STEM education.

Research interests

  • Skills development in STEM education
  • Evaluation of education programmes
  • Impact of education environments on students and educators
  • EDI in education

Esteem Indicators

  • 2019: School Governor:
  • 2019: Fellow: Durham Research Methods Centre (DRMC)
  • 2016: Fellow: Higher Education Academy
  • 2015: Fellow: Wolfson Research Insitute for Health and Wellbeing
  • 2001: Member: Institute of Physics

Publications

Chapter in book

Journal Article

Other (Digital/Visual Media)

Report

Supervision students