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david_warrenPhD (Otago), MSc, BSc (Hons) (London)

Tel +64 3 479 4102
Location Science II, Gc3
Email dwarren@chemistry.otago.ac.nz

Teaching Responsibilities

  • Coordination of Summer School CHEM191
  • Coordination of the Chemistry Outreach programme

Research Interests

With a background in high school chemistry teaching and as coordinator for the chemistry outreach programme my research interests are in chemical education, especially the topical area of 'science communication'. Within the OECD the numbers of school students taking science topics has fallen drastically over the last 20 years. The response has been the growth of science 'edu-tainment' in an effort to capture the imagination of young audiences. However, such programs frequently target 'safe' audiences that are already engaged with science. Our community based outreach programme targets rural and low-decile schools with a hands on approach delivered by our own chemistry students. These are audiences who traditionally don't engage with science, who don't see science as relevant to their lives and who represent the lowest achievement rates at NCEA. Recently we have had the opportunity to extend this programme and currently have two projects in Taiwan and Malaysia.

Current research is focussed on two areas: firstly, the development of hands on activities for use with school groups; secondly, the learning and development of self-efficacy amongst the department students who are involved in delivering the outreach programme.

In recent years my interest has been the use of overseas outreach visits how they can be used to develop students into global citizens.

For more information about the Chemistry Outreach programme https://blogs.otago.ac.nz/chemoutreach/

Two videos made by our partners give an overview and impression of these trips

2017 trip to Bario, Sarawak. https://youtu.be/9wJg9_Ihomo

2016 trip to the Madam Curie Chemistry campo in Taiwan. https://youtu.be/lL3HeB4qcT8

Publications

Warren, D. (2020). Student outcomes from a long-term outreach program working in rural and low-income schools. Journal of the Chinese Chemical Society, 67, 2233-2240. doi: 10.1002/jccs.202000442 Journal - Research Article

Mackay, S. M., Tan, E. W., & Warren, D. S. (2020). Developing a new generation of scientist communicators through effective public outreach. Communications Chemistry, 3, 76. doi: 10.1038/s42004-020-0315-0 Journal - Research Other

Warren, D. (2019, December). Student outcomes from a long term outreach program working with students in rural and low income school. Verbal presentation at the 18th Asian Chemical Congress and 20th General Assembly of the Federation of Asian Chemical Societies, Taipei, Taiwan. Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Warren, D. (2019, November). Applying outcomes from an outreach program to school classrooms. Verbal presentation at the Sarawak Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Symposium (SaSTEMS 2019), Kuching, Malaysia. Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Warren, D. (2019, November). Outreaching the next generation of scientific innovators: Malaysia and New Zealand perspectives. Keynote presentation at the 7th International Postgraduate Conference on Science and Mathematics (ICON STEM-Ed 2019 - 7th IPCSM), Tanjung Malim, China. Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

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