Frances Quinn

Dr Frances Quinn is a Senior Lecturer in Science Education at the School of Education, Faculty of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Education, University of New England (UNE), Australia. She teaches pre-service primary and secondary teachers and has a strong research focus on science education, teacher professional learning, and Education for Sustainability.

• Senior Lecturer, Science Education, School of Education, UNE
• Researcher in Science Education and Sustainability
• Active in national and international science education research collaborations

Her research interests include science education (particularly biology), distance and blended learning in science, students' perceptions of learning science, and Education for Sustainability (EfS). She investigates how teachers, especially in rural and remote areas, develop professionally and how sustainability is integrated into teacher education and school curricula.

Dr Quinn’s recent publications span topics such as out-of-field teaching, online professional development, rural education, and environmental science education. Her work frequently appears in high-impact journals like Research in Science Education, Environmental Education Research, and Teaching and Teacher Education, reflecting a consistent and influential contribution to science and teacher education research.

She has been awarded several competitive grants, including an ARC Discovery Project on out-of-field teaching and commissioned reports for the Australian Academy of Science. Her projects often address equity, access, and quality in science education, particularly for rural and remote communities.

Dr Quinn actively supervises research students and collaborates with national and international scholars. She has contributed to major research initiatives such as the IRIS project and has presented her work at leading conferences including ESERA, ECER, and STEM2016.

She is involved in developing and evaluating professional learning programs for teachers, including digital initiatives like 'Primary Connections' online PLD. Her work bridges research, policy, and classroom practice in science and sustainability education.