Dr Jen Martin

Contact: j.martin1@unimelb.edu.au

About:

In 2016, Jen founded BRITE, as a way to bring together those in the School of BioSciences with a strong interest in teaching and learning,

Jen is a Senior Lecturer in Science Communication, who founded the founded University of Melbourne’s Science Communication Teaching Program, which teaches scientists across all disciplines to be engaging and effective communicators.

Jen (@scidocmartin ) also:

• Has a weekly segment on 3RRR about science
• Hosts podcasts –  Lets Talk SciComm, the ABT Time Podcast
• Writes for a variety of publications
• Linktree – Access to websites that Jen contributes to

Areas of Expertise in Teaching Practice:

• Teaching communication skills
• Employability skills
• Curriculum design

Educational Research Areas of Interest:

Jen’s educational research areas of interest include:

• Skill development – specifically how science students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels develop communication skills.
  • Investigating how students feel about public speaking and how they develop the skills to speak about science for different audiences.
  • Investigating how science students (who have been trained to write in a formal academic style) develop the skills to write about science for non-scientific audiences.
• Current projects with three PhD students and one Master’s student fall into the broad category of environmental communication and education.

Educational Research Grants:

• 2019 –  Esprit Hallmark Seed Funding Scheme, ‘Identity and social participation: What do these have to do with the art and science of practicing together?
• 2019 – University of Melbourne Learning and Teaching Initiative, ‘Communication for Research Scientists Winter Intensive’
• 2018 – SSAF Grant, ‘Enhancing employability for STEM students’
• 2017 – University of Melbourne Learning and Teaching Initiative ‘Formative Feedback on how to write essays to students in large classes’
• 2014 – University of Melbourne Learning and Teaching Initiative ‘Customised learning: using real-time student feedback to shape curriculum’
• 2010 – Faculty of Science Learning and Teaching Initiative, ‘Building an online bridging program to cater for the diversity of students in first year Biology’
• 2007 – Development Grant for Innovation in Large Group Teaching ‘Catering for diversity in large classes in biology by developing a series of integrated, interactive online teaching resources’

 

Awards:

• 2020 – Winner, David White Award for Excellence in Teaching, University of Melbourne
• 2019 – Winner, Unsung Hero of Australian Science Communication, Australian Science Communicators
• 2015 – Winner, Dean’s Award for Excellence in Engagement (Outreach and Science Communication), Faculty of Science
• 2014 – Winner, Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, Faculty of Science
• 2010 – Winner, GEM Scott Grant, for Excellence in Lecturing, University of Melbourne

Educational Conferences

• 2020-2021 – Convening the practice and education stream of the Australian Science Communicators’ Conference –
• Attended and presented at ACSME and BEAN