Unni Eikeseth

Unni Eikeseth is an Associate Professor in Natural Sciences at the Department of Teacher Education, Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). She specializes in chemistry and science didactics for primary and secondary school teacher education programs.

Her educational background includes a Cand. scient in organic chemistry from the University of Bergen, doctoral-level courses in organic chemistry at NTNU, and PPU (Professional Pedagogical Education) from NTNU. She has also completed specialized courses including Higher Education Didactics for Sustainability (2024), Perspectives in Science and Technology Didactics (2023), and Science Didactics for Teacher Educators (2019).

Eikeseth's research focuses on scientific literacy, the use of socially relevant topics in science teaching, popular science communication, and narrative texts about natural science. She is particularly interested in school gardens as learning environments and coordinates ILU's university garden, Humlehagen. Her recent work examines conspiracy theories in education, climate change communication, and digital learning resources related to the periodic table through the 'Time Travel Elements' project.

Her publications from 2023-2024 reveal a strong emphasis on environmental chemistry education, science communication challenges, and innovative teaching methods. She frequently publishes in both academic journals and popular media outlets, demonstrating her commitment to bridging academic research with public understanding of science.

• Shortlisted for NTNU's literature prize in 2020 for 'Jakten på stedsansen' (The Search for a Sense of Place)

Eikeseth serves as a board member of the Institute Board at the Department of Teacher Education and has been actively involved in multiple research groups including the ScienceHumanities research group and projects related to conspiracy theories in education. She previously worked as a research fellow in organic chemistry at NTNU, a science journalist and program director at NRK (2002-2009, 2010-2015), and as an associate professor at Trondheim Cathedral School (2009-2010). She was also the leader of the Norwegian Association of Research Journalists from 2014-2015.

She coordinates the university garden Humlehagen and is involved in the '80th anniversary of the 1942 teaching campaign' working group that documents teachers' resistance against Nazification of schools during World War II.