ISABEL GARCIA-RODEJA GAYOSO

Isabel Garcia-Rodeja Gayoso is a Professor in the Department of Applied Didactics at the Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela. She earned her PhD in 1994 with a thesis on soil science and phosphorus desorption, exploring environmental risks linked to water pollution. Her research focuses on science education, particularly in early childhood and secondary education settings, emphasizing inquiry-based learning, argumentation skills, and conceptual model development.

• Education: PhD in Soil Science (University of Santiago de Compostela, 1994).

Her work examines how students construct scientific models (e.g., buoyancy, combustion, air properties) and engage in critical discourse. She leads the RODA research group, investigating reasoning and argumentation in educational contexts. Key areas include environmental literacy, teacher training, and inclusive pedagogical strategies for students with communication challenges. Notable contributions involve developing preschool science activities and analyzing student mental models about climate change and ecosystems.

Publications address topics like inquiry-based experiments with woodlice, teacher attitudes toward science activities in early childhood, and the role of evidence in student explanations. Her research bridges cognitive development theories with classroom practices, advocating for hands-on, argument-driven pedagogy to foster scientific literacy.

Awards & Recognition: No specific awards listed, though her extensive publication record reflects sustained academic contribution.

Her teaching and research emphasize interdisciplinary approaches, including environmental sustainability and social-ecological controversies like wolf conservation in Galicia. She collaborates on multimedia resources for inclusive classrooms and critical thinking education initiatives across European universities.