Patricia Marzin-Janvier

Patricia Marzin-Janvier is a University Professor in Science Didactics (CNU 70) at the University of Western Brittany, affiliated with the National Higher Institute of Teaching and Education (INSPE) of Brittany. She serves as Deputy Director of the House of Human and Social Sciences in Brittany and is President of ARDIST (Association for Research in Science and Technology Didactics). Her research focuses on the mechanisms of knowledge transmission and appropriation in science education, particularly in biology, with a strong emphasis on climate change education and citizen science initiatives.

Her research interests span multiple dimensions of science education, with a particular focus on societal transitions including climatic, epidemiological, and gender-related issues. She investigates how scientific knowledge is transmitted in various contexts that involve school and families, outdoor learning environments, and collaborations between schools and scientists. Her work bridges the gap between formal education, scientific practice, and societal needs, particularly in addressing urgent issues like climate change. She has developed innovative approaches to science teaching that emphasize inclusive and collaborative methods, with applications in both initial and continuing teacher education.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong trajectory toward interdisciplinary research connecting science education with environmental concerns, particularly climate change education. Her work increasingly focuses on nature-based learning approaches (like forest schools), citizen science projects that engage students in authentic environmental monitoring, and the development of critical thinking regarding scientific issues like vaccination during pandemics. The EDU-OakBodyguards project exemplifies her approach, examining how citizen science projects can be designed to generate meaningful scientific learning while addressing ecological concerns.

Professor Marzin-Janvier has supervised 14 doctoral theses, with 3 currently in progress, demonstrating her significant contribution to developing the next generation of science education researchers. Her collaborative projects include the Partnership-CRSH project funded by the Canadian Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council ($1,844,507, 2023-2030), the HETeaching-Bienvenüe Marie Skłodowska-Curie EU project, and the Tree Oak Bodyguards European citizen science project. Her research has practical applications in educational technology, contributing to the development of the Copex software for the LabBook learning platform and the SCY-Lab platform used in secondary and university teaching.

Her work extends beyond traditional academic boundaries through her involvement with the High Council for Climate in Brittany, the Council for Gender Equality of the Brittany Region, and the Gender Equality Commission of the University of Western Brittany. This demonstrates her commitment to applying educational research to pressing societal issues and ensuring inclusive approaches across all dimensions of her work.