Nature Connectedness: Preparing Primary School Science Teachers to Connect their Students to the Natural World

We invite applicants for a PhD fellowship to research how best to prepare primary school science teachers to enhance science instruction through their students’ experience of and connection to the natural world. The project is part of the Danish Science Education Academy (NAFA) and its research program: Center of Excellence in Science Education (CESE). This program announces a PhD call focusing on research relevant to practice in Danish primary and lower secondary education and/or teacher education. All CESE PhD calls are organized through collaboration between a Danish university college and a Danish university. CESE PhD candidates become part of NAFA and this position will be linked to a forthcoming CESE research project in relation to either NAFA Theme 4 “Student Experiences in Science” or Theme 5 “Learning materials in Science”.

NAFA aims to promote motivating and rewarding science education in primary schools through enhanced training of science teachers. Children and young people should experience strengthened scientific competence, which they can apply in their roles as individuals, citizens, and professionals. Learn more about NAFA here: www.NAFA.nu.

The expected start date is January 1st, 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter.

The research project

Science instruction at the primary level influences students’ perceptions of science that they often carry for their entire lives. With more and more instruction being delivered either through digital means or with the help of digital tools, the opportunity for students to experience and connect to the natural world may become so diminished that they do not tie the science they are studying to the world around them. Using an example from atmospheric science, it is entirely possible to learn about the atmosphere without having a feel for the atmosphere: experiencing difference in wind direction and speed, tying cloud forms and amounts to existing and impending weather patterns, recognizing how different kinds and amounts of precipitation influence plant and animal life. Similarly, a connection to lifeforms or landforms in nature may provide not only a way to interest students in their science studies, but prepare them for recognizing when their surroundings are changing, whether for better or for worse. And while most students are curious, they need to learn how to experience the natural world to apply that knowledge in their everyday lives.

We seek a candidate for an exciting research project focused around the concept of teaching science through nature connectedness. The project aims to explore how primary school science teachers might lead their students to experience nature not just as a mental construct, but as something they experience with their bodies, thus leading to posing questions about how the natural world works. The project could be designed to provide insights into how teachers currently do or do not use some form of nature connectedness in their instruction, how it might be incorporated into teaching, and the outcomes for both teachers’ perceptions of the effectiveness of such a teaching and the outcomes for students themselves.

There will be considerable room to shape and adapt this PhD project to the academic background and interests of the PhD candidate. Possible areas of specialisation could be a focus on outdoor education, embodiment, materiality, or aesthetic experiences in science education. The project can include a range of methodologies, including, but not limited to, literature reviews, surveys, classroom observations and interviews, teaching experiments and testing of implementation strategies in the classroom. The PhD project should be relevant to practice in the Danish primary school and/or teacher education.

The final project design will be determined in consultation with the supervisors after the appointment.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for candidates with experience in science education in primary/lower secondary school (grundskolen), teacher education and/or professional development of teachers. Candidates with competencies in qualitative and/or quantitative research methods are encouraged to apply. Proficiency in understanding and speaking English and Danish or another Scandinavian language is preferred, as the PhD candidate will conduct their research in a Danish school setting. Finally, candidates with previous experience in research dissemination and publication will also be preferred.

Our group and research- and what do we offer?

The PhD candidate will be affiliated with an active research and development environment at the university college as well as with an active research environment at the university. The candidate will also become part of the PhD community under the Centre of Excellence in Science Education (CESE), where researchers and PhD students regularly meet for seminars and courses across University Colleges and universities in Denmark.

Your supervisors will be:

• Professor Kristine Cecile Harper, Department of Science Education, University of Copenhagen, [email protected], +45 61379010 (principal supervisor).
• Assistant Professor Magdalena Kersting, Department of Science Education, University of Copenhagen, [email protected], (co-supervisor).

The candidate will be encouraged to find a supplementary experienced co-supervisor from the University Colleges connected to activities in NAFA related to the PhD project based on the candidate’s job situation and needs in collaboration with the main supervisor following project start.

The PhD programme is a three year full-time study within the framework of the regular PhD programme.

Qualifications needed for the regular programme
To be eligible for the regular PhD programme, you must have completed a degree programme, equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject area of the project. For information on the eligibility of completed programmes, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.

Terms of employment in the regular programme
Employment as PhD fellow is full time and for maximum three years. Employment is conditional upon your successful enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD School at the Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

The selected candidate will be employed at the University of Copenhagen. If the selected candidate has existing permanent employment at a Danish university college, it may be possible to arrange to continue in this position while being enrolled as PhD student at the University of Copenhagen.

Terms of appointment and payment will be according to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Responsibilities and tasks

• Carry through an independent research project under supervision
• Complete PhD courses corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS / ½ FTE
• Participate in active research environments, including a stay at another research institution, preferably abroad
• Teaching and knowledge dissemination activities
• Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals
• Write and defend a PhD thesis on the basis of your project

Application and Assessment Procedure

Applications should include a PhD project proposal with clear and relevant research questions that link to the proposed research design and methodology. In the evaluation of the application, emphasis is placed on the relevance of the research question to the research project within which it will be rooted as well as the originality of the project and the suggested research design and methodology. Further criteria are:

• The project´s ability to relate the proposal to existing research
• The relevance of the project to NAFA’s overall objectives and CESE’s current research strategy
• The project’s plan to make the project relevant to the field of practice and for knowledge transfer through education, dissemination, or development activities.
• The PhD candidate’s reflections on ethical aspects specifically related to the proposed project.

All applicants must be aware of and consider the general description of https://nafa.nu/wp-content/uploads/sites/46/2023/11/generelle-retninglinjer-til-cese-phd-opslag.pdf.

Your application including all attachments must submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Applications in both Danish and English are welcome.

Please include:

1. Letter of application, including your motivation for applying for the specific PhD project
2. Proposal for a PhD project related to the research area described above. The proposal may not exceed six-pages in length. Please use this template.
3. Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position
4. Original diplomas for completed Bachelors and Masters education and transcripts of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in another language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted.
5. Publication list (if possible)

Application deadline: 25 September 2024 23:59 GMT +2

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline and not to consider applications that do not meet the above-mentioned requirements.

The further process
After deadline, a number of applicants will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessment committee. You will be notified whether you qualify proceed beyond the assessment stage.

The assessment committee will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above-mentioned research area, techniques, skills and other requirements. The assessment committee will conclude whether each applicant is qualified. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

Interviews with selected candidates are expected to be held in week 44.

Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.

For specific questions regarding the PhD position’s connection to NAFA themes can be directed to CESE Research Leader Martin Sillasen ([email protected]).

General information about PhD study at the Faculty of SCIENCE is available at the PhD School’s website: https://www.science.ku.dk/phd/.

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position.

Kilde: Jobnet.dk