Helena Bichao

Helena Bichao is an Associate Professor at the Department of Teacher Education within the Faculty of Social and Educational Science at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Her institutional affiliation demonstrates deep integration with NTNU's educational research ecosystem, particularly through her involvement with the ScienceHumanities research group and INUBU (Innovative Science Education for Sustainable Development) initiative. Her work bridges traditional science education with creative methodologies, establishing her as a distinctive voice in Scandinavian science pedagogy.

Dr. Bichao's research interests focus on the transformative potential of visual methods in science education, particularly drawing as a cognitive and communicative tool. Her work explores how artistic integration enhances conceptual understanding in biology and environmental science, with particular attention to embodied learning approaches involving insects and ocean ecosystems. She investigates how visual literacy develops scientific reasoning skills while addressing sustainability challenges through interdisciplinary frameworks that connect science with humanities perspectives.

Analysis of her publication trajectory reveals a significant shift from early work in chemical ecology and entomology toward science education research. Her recent scholarship demonstrates a consistent focus on drawing-based methodologies across multiple educational contexts, examining how visual representation supports conceptual development in biodiversity, evolution, and sustainability education. The interdisciplinary nature of her work connects biology, pedagogy, and arts integration through innovative methodological approaches that prioritize student experience and engagement.

As an academic advisor, Bichao has supervised numerous master's students working on creative approaches to science education, including comic production, photography-drawing synthesis, and debate methods for developing critical thinking. Her teaching portfolio includes courses on biodiversity, science as a school subject, and master's thesis supervision in science education. Her professional activities extend to international conferences across Europe where she presents on visual methods in science education and sustainable pedagogies.

Her research collective INUBU represents a significant interdisciplinary effort connecting science education with sustainability goals through arts integration. Bichao's collaborative work with the ScienceHumanities research group demonstrates her commitment to bridging disciplinary divides, particularly in projects addressing ocean literacy, water education, and performative learning with insects. Her recent presentations at Nordic and international conferences highlight the growing recognition of her innovative approach to science education that combines artistic expression with scientific inquiry.