Peter Ellerton

Dr. Peter Ellerton is a Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, University of Queensland. His academic career centers on the development and implementation of critical thinking pedagogy across educational contexts, with significant contributions to both theoretical frameworks and practical classroom applications.

Dr. Ellerton holds a Bachelor of Education from Griffith University, a Postgraduate Diploma from The University of Queensland, a Masters (Coursework) of Contemporary Science from Australian National University, and a Doctor of Philosophy from The University of Queensland. His doctoral research focused on 'Teaching for thinking: explaining pedagogical expertise in the development of the skills, values and virtues of inquiry,' establishing the foundation for his ongoing research program.

His research spans three interconnected domains: Teaching for Thinking, Public Reasoning, and Critical Thinking. In Teaching for Thinking, he investigates how educators develop pedagogical expertise specifically focused on fostering students' thinking abilities. His Public Reasoning work examines the public understanding of science, group and individual decision-making, and critical thinking in political discourse, including notable contributions to climate change communication. His Critical Thinking research focuses on developing clear, actionable understandings of critical thinking's constituent skills to optimize pedagogical approaches. His publications reveal a strong trend toward interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly with STEM education researchers, and increasing attention to the challenges posed by AI in educational contexts.

Dr. Ellerton actively supervises multiple PhD students working on diverse projects including vaccine hesitancy, collaborative decision-making in healthcare, and creating curious classrooms. He has secured significant funding for projects including the Queensland Police Service leadership program (2024-2026), Brisbane Catholic Education collaboration (2023-2025), and the SharingStories Foundation project on First Nations' perspectives (2023-2025).

Dr. Ellerton maintains strong collaborative relationships with schools including Park Ridge State High School, San Sisto College, and Archdiocese of Brisbane Catholic Education. His DEFT Project (Developing Expertise Fostering Thinking) represents a major initiative in tertiary educator development focused on thinking skills, demonstrating his commitment to translating theoretical work into practical educational applications.