Researcher Details |

Cliona Murphy

Contact Details

C318

T:Ext. 9157

E:Cliona.Murphy@dcu.ie

Associate Professor In Science Education

D316

T:00 353 1 8842153

C318
T:Ext. 9157

E:Cliona.Murphy@dcu.ie

Cliona has been lecturing in the area of science education at tertiary level for over 20 years. She has developed and implemented a range of pre-service, post-graduate and continuing professional learning programmes in science education. She has conducted and published research and developed educational resources in the areas of Nature of Science, Science Education, STEM Education, Inquiry- Based Science Education, Education for Sustainability and Climate Change Education. Cliona has collaborated in a number of National and International projects in Science Education, STEM Education, Education for Sustainable Development and Climate Change Education. Most recently Cliona was principal investigator on the Climate Our Oceans and Primary STEM Education: Climate and Ocean Literacy Network Ireland and Mauritius research project funded by the Irish Research. She is currently Irish principal investigator on the Erasmus Plus E^4 Project,.

Cliona's current roles include:

Director of the Centre for the Advancement of STEM Teaching and Learning (CASTeL). www.castel.ie.
Chair of ALLEA’s Science Education Working Group https://allea.org/science-education/)
Co-Chair of the scientific and pedagogical committee of the international Office for Climate Education. https://www.oce.global/en/home

Cliona welcomes queries from prospective Masters and PhD students who are interested in researching the following areas: STEM Education; Science Education; Science and Technology Education; Nature of Science; Teacher Professional Development; Climate Change Education: Education for Sustainability

Peer Reviewed Journal

	Year	Publication
	2021	Murphy, C.; Mallon, B.; Smith, G.; Kelly, O.; Pitsia, V.; Martinez Sainz, G. (2021) 'The influence of a teachers’ professional development programme on primary school pupils’ understanding of and attitudes towards sustainability'. Environmental Education Research, 27 . [Link] [DOI]
	2021	Redman, E.; Murphy, C.; Mancilla, Y.; Mallon, B.; Kater-Wettstaedt, L.; Barth, M.; Ortiz, M.G.; Smith, G.; Kelly, O. (2021) 'International scaling of sustainability continuing professional development for in-service teachers'. Interdisciplinary Journal of Environmental and Science Education, 17 . [Link] [DOI]
	2021	Murphy, C.; Smith, G.; Broderick, N. (2021) 'A Starting Point: Provide Children Opportunities to Engage with Scientific Inquiry and Nature of Science'. Research in Science Education, 51 . [Link] https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-019-9825-0
	2020	Murphy, C.; Smith, G.; Mallon, B.; Redman, E. (2020) 'Teaching about sustainability through inquiry-based science in Irish primary classrooms: the impact of a professional development programme on teacher self-efficacy, competence and pedagogy'. Environmental Education Research, 26 . [Link] [DOI]
	2020	Gilligan, T., Lovett, J., McLoughlin, E., Murphy, C., Finlayson, O., Corriveau, K., Mc Nally, S. (2020) '‘We practise every day’: parents’ attitudes towards early science learning and education among a sample of urban families in Ireland'. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, . https://doi.org/10.1080/1350293X.2020.1836588
	2020	Cliona Murphy, Nicola Broderick, Benjamin Mallon (2020) 'Primary science in Ireland – 17 years on'. Irish Teachers' Journal, 8 (1):141-156. [Link]
	2013	Varley, J.P.; Murphy, C.; Veale, O. (2013) 'At the Crossroads: The Impact of New Irish Science Curricula on First Year Post-Primary Students'. Research in Science Education, 43 . [Link] [DOI]
	2012	Murphy, C.; Varley, J.; Veale, O. (2012) 'I'd rather they did Experiments with us.... Than just Talking: Irish Children's Views of Primary School Science'. Research in Science Education, 42 . [Link] [DOI]
	2012	Murphy, C.; Smith, G. (2012) 'The impact of a curriculum course on pre-service primary teachers' science content knowledge and attitudes towards teaching science'. Irish Educational Studies, 31 . [Link] [DOI]
	2011	Murphy, Cliona; Murphy, Colette; Kilfeather, Paula (2011) 'Children Making Sense of Science'. Research in Science Education, 41 (2). [DOI]
	2007	Murphy, Cliona; Kilfeather, Paula; Murphy, Colette (2007) 'An exploration of issues surrounding teaching the nature of science to pre-service primary school teachers'. Irish Educational Studies, 26 (1). [DOI]

Other Journal

	Year	Publication
	2015	Cliona Murphy, Greg Smith,Janet Varley, Ozge Razi (2015) 'Changing Practice: An Evaluation of the Impact of a Nature of Science Inquiry-Based Professional Development Programme on Primary Teachers' 2 (1) . https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2015.1077692

Book Chapter

	Year	Publication
	2014	Cliona Murphy (2014) 'Science Items: Context and curriculum' In: National Schools, international contexts: Beyond the PIRLS and TIMSS test results. Dublin : Education Research Centre. [Link]

Published Report

	Year	Publication
	2023	Murphy, C.; Venkat, H.; Leahy, M.; Broderick, N.; Kelly, O.; Butler, D.; Harbison, L.; Lawlor, C.; Naughton, Y. (2023) STEM Education: Curriculum & literature overview & Primary science education: Systematic literature review. Dublin: National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, .
	2023	Cliona Murphy; Hamsa Venkat; Margaret Leahy; Nicola Broderick; Orla Kelly; Deirdre Butler; Lorraine Harbison; Caoimhe Lawlor; Yvonne Naughton (2023) STEM Education_Curriculum & Literature Overview and Primary Science Education_Systematic Literature Review. NCCA, .
	2020	Cliona Murphy, Gabriela Martínez Sainz, Maija Aksela, Gerd Bergman, Michael Jones, Pierre Léna, David Wilgenbus. B (2020) A Snapshot of Climate Change Education Initiatives in Europe: Initial findings and implications for future climate change education. ALLEA, .
	2020	Cliona Murphy, Gabriela Martínez Sainz, Maija Aksela, Gerd Bergman, Michael Jones, Pierre Léna, David Wilgenbus. B (2020) A Snapshot of Climate Change Education Initiatives in Europe: Initial findings and implications for future climate change education. ALLEA, . [DOI]
	2015	Murphy, C. , Humby, P. & Losty, S (2015) An Evaluation of the Impact of the DPSM / ESERO Programme and Ancillary Resources on Primary Teachers' APprocahes to and Confidence in Teaching Science. Science Foundation Ireland, .
	2009	Waldron, F., Pike, S., Greenwood, R., Murphy, C., O, Connor, G., Dolan, A., & Kerr, K. (2009) Becoming a teacher: Primary student teachers as learners and teachers of history, geography and science: An all-Ireland study. ScoTENS, . [Link]
	2008	Varley, J., Murphy, C., & Veale, O. (2008) Science in Primary Schools ( Phase 1. Final Report). NCCA, . [Link]
	2008	Varley, J., Murphy, C., & Veale, O. (2008) Science in Primary Schols ( Phase 2. Final Report). NCCA, . [Link]

Book

	Year	Publication
	2016	Cliona Murphy (Editor), Nicola Broderick, Greg Smith. (2016) SUSTAIN Energy Teacher Resource Book. France: La main à la pâte Foundation. http://www.fondation-lamap.org/en/sustain/project
	2015	Cliona Murphy, Nicola Broderick, Lydnsay Kenny (2015) Real Science for Young Scientists. Drumcondra: St Patrick's College. http://doras.dcu.ie/24383/
	2016	Nicola Broderick, Cliona Murphy (2016) Scientist's Apprentice - Energy and Resources. Stillorgan Road, Belfield, Dublin 4: University College Dublin.
	2016	Cliona Murphy (Editor), Nicola Broderick, Greg Smith (2016) SUSTAIN Energy Teacher Resource Book. FRANCE: La main à la pâte Foundation.
	2004	Cliona Murphy Helena Jeffrey (2004) Switch On Science: 3rd Class Pupil's Book. Dublin: Gill Education.

Conference Publication

	Year	Publication
	2023	White, J.; Murphy, C.; Burke., D. (2023) ESAI 2023 *Using Embodied Cognition to learn Science in the Junior Primary Classroom*
	2022	Murphy, C.; Mallon, B.; Rumjaun, A.; Bholah, R,. (2022) Science and Mathematics Education Conference (SMEC) *Teaching about Climate Change through Primary Science Education: A Comparative study between Ireland and Mauritius* DCU, Dublin,
	2023	John White, Cliona Murphy, Damien Burke (2023) ESAI 2023 *Using Embodied Cognition to Learn Science in Infant Classes*
	2017	Murphy, C. (2017) African European Mediterranean Academies of Science Education ( AEMASE) III . In: Macchi, O. & Lageat, S eds. *Teach teachers to teach about Nature of Science*
	2010	Jarvis, T, Murphy, C., & Murphy, C. (2010) Invited workshop presentation to the 4th Science and Mathematics Educational Conference (SMEC), Dublin *The Fibonacci Project: Teaching about Nature of Science in the Primary Classroom*
	2010	Murphy, C., & Varley, J (2010) Paper presented at the National Academy for the National Academy for the Integration of Research and Teaching and Learning (NAIRTL) Annual Conference, Dublin *The Building Expertise in Science Teaching (BEST) Project*
	2009	Murphy, C. (2009) Paper presented at the Irish Association for Social Scientific and Environmental Education (IASSEE) annual conference, Dublin *Student teachers’ issues of confidence and concern regarding teaching primary science*
	2009	Varley, J. Murphy, C. & Veale, O. (2009) Paper presented at the ESAI annual conference, Kilkenny *Prospect and retrospect: Irish pupils’ views of primary and post-primary school science*
	2007	Murphy, C. (2007) Paper presented at the Association of Science Education (ASE) annual conference, Birmingham University *Can Irish primary school children obtain contemporary conceptions of the nature of science within the Irish primary school curriculum?*
	2005	Cliona Murphy (2005) BERA *The development of Irish primary teachers’ conceptions of the nature of science and their translation into classroom practice: A yearlong study*

Conference Contribution

	Year	Publication
	2023	Murphy C. (2023) GLOBE EU: Navigating the Shifting Landscape: Developing Skills and Education for a Sustainable Eur A closer look into obstacles impacting effective Climate Change Education. Invited Speaker: GLOBE EU: Navigating the Shifting Landscape: Developing Skills and Education for a Sustainable European Future European Parliament. Brussels, .
	2022	Murphy C. (2022) UNESCO's Office For Climate Education International Seminar on Climate Change Education Obstacles for Climate Change Education and how to overcome them. Keynote. UNESCO Paris, .
	2020	Cliona Murphy (2020) Can Climate Change Education save the planet? Euroepan perspectives International webinar on climate change education Dublin - Online Webinar, 22/11/2020-.
	2019	Cliona Murphy (2019) United Nations Conference on Climate Change: COP 25 A snapshot of some preliminary findings from the ALLEA European Survey on Climate Change Education Madirid, .
	2018	Cliona Murphy, Benjamin Mallon, Greg Smith (2018) Science and mathematics Education Conference (SMEC) Education for sustainable development through inquiry-based science: Exploring a programme of professional development for Irish primary teachers Dublin, .
	2018	Cliona Murphy, Greg Smith, Benjamin Mallon (2018) The 8th Science and Mathematics Education Conference (SMEC) Education for Sustainable Development through Inquiry-Based Science: Exploring a Programme of Professional Development for Irish Primary Teachers Dublin City University, .

Commissioned Report

	Year	Publication
	2019	Cliona Murphy, Nicola Broderick, Benjamin Mallon (2019) Royal Dublin Science and Technology Strategic Plan 2019 – 2023 Report. COMMREP

Pamphlet

	Year	Publication
	2020	Cliona Murphy (2020) ALLEA (2020) ' A snapshot of Climate Change Education Initiatives in Europe: Initial Findings and implications for future Climate Change Education' - its Relevance for Ireland. Dublin: PAMP [Link]

Guidelines for Practice

	Year	Publication
	2020	Lydie Lescarmontier, Mathalie Morata, Mariana Rocha, Jenny Schlüpmann Mathilde Tricorie David Wilgenbus (2020) The Climate in our Hands - Ocean and Cryosphere: Teachers' guide book for primary and secondary school. France: GFP

Professional Associations

Association	Function	From / To
All European Academies (ALLEA)	Chair of Science Education Working Group	06/06/2019 - 31/12/2025
Irish Association of Primary Science Education	Chair	01/09/2019 - 31/12/2021
Centre for the Advancement of STEM Teaching and Learning	Associate director	01/08/2018 - 31/12/2026
Educational Studies Association of Irleand	Member	01/01/2021 -

Honors and Awards

	Date	Title	Awarding Body
	01/05/2012	Excellence in Teaching and Learning	Teaching and Learning Committee, St Patrick's College, Dublin

Committees

Committee	Function	From / To
All European Academies (ALLEA) Science Education Working Group		02/06/2019 - 31/12/2025
CASTeL Management Committee		05/08/2018 -
Office for Climate Education		20/06/2018 -
Centre for the Advancement of STEM Teaching and Learning		01/09/2021 - 31/08/2026
Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research (AMBER) Centre Education and Public Engagement (EPE) Advisory Committee	To provide strategic overview and assessment of the AMBER EPE programme ensuring that the EPE programme will inspire, facilitate and celebrate engagement between researchers, students, teachers, members of the public, industry partners and advocacy organisations, so as to encourage authentic involvement in materials science research, and the wider STEM sector.	03/09/2018 - 31/12/2023

Other Activities

	Description
	DCU Mentoring Programme
	Primary Science Subject Co-ordinator
	Year Head: 3rd year Bachelor of Education

Enterprise Engagement

Year	Engagement Type	Client	Description
2023	Consultancy	National Council for Curriculum and Assessment ( NCCA)	STEM Education Development Group
2022	Consultancy	National Council for Curriculum and Assessment ( NCCA)	STEM Education Development Group
2021	Consultancy	Sustainable Energy Association Ireland ( SEAI)	Member of Advisory Panel
2021	Consultancy	Office for Climate Education	Chair of Science and Pedagogical Committee
2021	Consultancy	ALLEA Science Education Working Group	Chair
2017	Consultancy	H2 Learning	Policy Analysist to aid the develoment of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths ( STEM) Education Policy of Schools
2017	Continuous Professional Development/Training	Royal Dublin Society	Consultancy on professional development in Science Education
2017	Consultancy	Royal Dublin Society	Judge at the RDS Primary Science Fair
2014	Continuous Professional Development/Training	SFI Discover	CPD with SFI Discover facilitators
2013	Consultancy	Royal Dublin Society	RDS STEM Learning Project
2012	Consultancy	Royal Dublin Society	Programme Development Group: RDS STEM Learning Programme
2024	Consultancy	UNESCO Office for Climate Education	Co Chair of Science and Pedagogical Committee
2024	Consultancy	National Council for Curriculum and Assessment ( NCCA)	NCCA STEM Education Development Group
2023	Consultancy	UNESCO Office for Climate Education	Co Chair of Science and Pedagogical Committee
2024	Consultancy	UNESCO Office for Climate Education	Co-chair of Science and Pedagogical Committee

Outreach Activities

Year	Engagement Type	Organisation	Description
2024	Advisory Work	All European Science Academies	Chair of ALLEA Science Education Working Group
2023	Educational Outreach/Public Engagement	All European Science Academies	Chair ALLEA Science Education Working Group
2023	Presentations/Talks to an external audience	RTE Brainstorm	White, J. and Murphy, C. ( 2023). Can your body help you to learn science? RTE Brainstorm
2023	Advisory Work	UNESCO Office for Climate Education	Providing feedback on Climate Change Education Resources
	Advisory Work	ALLEA Science Education Working Group	Chair
2022	Presentations/Talks to an external audience	UNESCO Office for Climate Education	Key note speaker at UNESCO's Office for Climate Education Summer School
2202	Advisory Work	ALLEA	Chair of Science education working group
2019	Advisory Work	Royal Irish Academy	Science education advisor
	Educational Outreach/Public Engagement	AMBER Trinity College	Member of Amber's Education and Public Engagement Board
	Educational Outreach/Public Engagement	Royal Dublin Society	Member of STEM Learning Project Development Team Science Blast Evaluator

Research Interests

Dr. Murphy's research interests include:

Science Education
STEM Education
Nature of Science
Climate Change Education
Education for Sustainability
Inquiry Based Science Education (IBSE)

Research Projects

Title	Role	Start date	End date
higher Educational tools for an Embodied and creative Education on Enerty	DCU PI	28/02/2022	27/02/2025
Physics in Action	Co-Investigator	01/01/2021	31/12/2021
The Climate, Our Oceans and Primary STEM Education: A comparative study between Mauritius and Ireland	DCU PI	01/12/2021	31/08/2022
SEAI Panel of Experts	Education Expert	01/10/2020	31/05/2023
Let's Talk about STEM	Investigator	01/01/2019	31/12/2019
International study on students' knowledge in and attitudes towards teaching science	Investigator	01/09/2020	31/12/2021

Contract Researchers

	Researcher Name	Project	Funding Body
	Ozge Razi	Fibonacci Project
	Orla Veale	Evaluation of the Primary School Curriculum (NCCA)
	Darren Sheils	E^4
	Evin Dennehy	E^4

Current Postgraduate Students

Student Name	Degree	Supervision
Sheils ,Darren	PhD-track	Supervisor
Boyle ,Mary	PhD	Supervisor
O'Donnell ,Mary	PhD-track	Supervisor
Devenney ,Evin	PhD-track	Supervisor

Internal Collaborators

Type	Name	Company	Role
Internal	Ben Mallon	Dublin City University	Academic
Internal	Greg Smith	Dublin City University	Academic
Internal	Rowan Oberman	DCU Institute of Education	Academic
Internal	Orla Kelly	Dublin City University	Academic
Internal	John White	DCU Institute of Education	Academic
Internal	Nicola Broderick	Dublin City University	Academic

External Collaborators

Type	Name	Company	Role
External	Stephanie O Neill	SFI Discover	Industry
External	Andrea Doherty	Stranmillis University College	Academic
External	Laoise Ni Chleirigh	Maynooth University	Academic
External	Karen Sheeran	Royal Dublin Society	Industry
External	Sandra Austin	Marino Institute of Education	Academic
External	Evelyn McClaren	Glasgow University	Academic
External	Miriam Hamilton	Mary ImmaculateCollege	Academic
External	Karen Kerr	Queen's University College	Academic
External	Eric Guilyardi	LOCEAN IPSL	Academic
External	Pierre Lena	Office for Climate Education	Academic
External	Aoife Cannon	Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland ( SEAI)	Industry
External	Rachel Kavanagh	AMBER, Trinity College Dublin	Industry
External	Anne Lejeune	La main à la pâte	Academic
External	Erin Redman	Global Consortium for Sustainable Outcomes	Academic
External	David Wilgenbus	La main à la pâte	Academic
External	Colette Murphy	Trinity College Dublin	Academic
External	Peter McGrath	Inter Academy Partnership (IAP)	Academic
External	Daniel Schaffer	Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE)	Other
External	Maija Aksela	Univeristy of Helsinki	Academic

Teaching Interests

Science Education
Inquiry Based Science Education (IBSE)
Nature of Science
Nature of Science through inquiry
Sustainability Education
Controversial topics in science
Climate Change
Teacher as a reflective Practioner
Action Research