Robertson Burgess

Dr Robertson Burgess is a Lecturer in the School of Education at the University of Newcastle, Australia, specialising in secondary science and mathematics teacher education. Leveraging his PhD in Physics and prior experience as a high-school science and mathematics teacher in both England and Australia, he now leads research and teaching initiatives that integrate emerging technologies into STEM education.

Education

• Doctor of Philosophy (Physics), University of Newcastle
• Bachelor of Science (Honours), University of Newcastle
• Master of Teaching (Secondary), University of Newcastle

Research Interests

Dr Burgess investigates how cutting-edge technologies—particularly artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and games-based learning—can be harnessed ethically and effectively in secondary classrooms. His work addresses two intertwined strands: (1) understanding the impact of these technologies on student learning and teacher practice, and (2) supporting early-career science teachers, many of whom teach outside their specialisation. By analysing large-scale teacher interactions in online communities using generative AI, he identifies pressing challenges and feeds these insights back into initial teacher education programs.

Grants & Funding

Across 2023–2024 he has secured or co-secured eight grants totalling $164,491. Key projects include:

• Developing a Pacific Waste Curriculum Toolkit for Pacific Island Nations – SPREP (2023)
• Google Educator PD Grant Workshop – Google Asia Pacific (2024)
• CNC Plasma Cutter, Mobile Immersive Learning Lab, ICE Software iCave, Eye-Tracking Wearable, Video Editing Workstation – multiple CAPEX awards (2024)
• CHSF Pilot Research Scheme – College of Human and Social Futures (2024)

Research Supervision

He currently co-supervises or principal-supervises five PhD candidates, all within the College of Human and Social Futures. Projects span immersive digital tools in architecture education, teacher decision-making for VR integration, instructional balance for low-SES science students, HSC course-prediction modelling, and the cognitive effects of lighting on colour perception.

Labs & Teams

Dr Burgess is an active member of interdisciplinary teams within the School of Education and the College of Human and Social Futures, contributing to the university’s Mobile Immersive Learning Lab and collaborating with colleagues on the integration of AI-driven analytics into teacher professional development programs.