معرفی
Sandra Austin is a Lecturer and Head of the Department of Global Diversity, Sustainability & Intercultural Education at Marino Institute of Education, Dublin, where she has taught Social, Environmental and Scientific Education since 2016. Previously, she lectured in primary science education at St. Patrick’s College of Education (2013-2016) and coordinated the Grow Your Own Future horticultural training programme for lone parents in Dublin.
Her academic qualifications include a PhD in Pharmacology from University College Dublin (2001), an MEd in Teaching & Learning from Dublin City University, a BA Mod in Natural Sciences from Trinity College Dublin (1989), and a FETAC 5/6 in Horticulture from Teagasc.
Austin's research centers on inquiry-based learning in primary education contexts, particularly through garden-based, museum-based, and outdoor environmental experiences. She investigates how these approaches foster connections between curriculum content and real-world sustainability challenges, emphasizing student agency in environmental action and social justice. Her work consistently bridges horticultural expertise with pedagogical innovation, focusing on practical implementation strategies for teachers.
Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong thematic focus on place-based learning resources (school gardens, museums, local environments) as catalysts for inquiry. She examines how these contexts nurture critical thinking while addressing challenges in teacher implementation, with recurring emphasis on collaborative projects and community engagement across environmental, geographical, and scientific domains.
No scientific awards were documented in the source material.
Austin actively shapes teacher development through initiatives like the RDS STEM Learning Project (2015-2016) and the ENEBLe research project on inquiry-based learning in teacher education. Her grant-funded work, including the 2020 ENEBLe report, demonstrates sustained engagement with educational research funding mechanisms.
She co-leads the Ireland chapter of the My Primary School is at the Museum Research Network and collaborates with the ENEBLe team (Greenwood, Bacon, Pike). Professional affiliations include the Irish Association for Primary Science Education Executive Committee and the Chartered Institute of Horticulture Ireland Branch Committee.
