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USC appoints award-winning educator
Award-winning academic and author Dr Noel Meyers has been appointed Professor and Head of School of Science and Education at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
Professor Meyers, 43, formerly of the University of Tasmania and Queensland University of Technology, will take up his position at USC in February.
The dynamic academic – who has a PhD in Botany (UQ), has submitted his Master of Education thesis at QUT, and whose interests include mountain climbing and scuba diving – said he was looking forward to leading a school in which his dual expertise in education and science could be so well utilised.
“To have the disciplines of science and education in the same school is unique in Australia,” he said. “I think the school’s staff and future growth will position us well to make significant contributions to science, education, and science education nationally.”
Professor Meyers passionately believes that fostering stronger links between science and education will lead to a more holistic approach to science education, with clear benefits for the region, Australia and the world.
“Our school will continually refine our programs and develop innovative courses designed to guide students’ approaches to address current environmental and education challenges,” he said.
“We look forward to creating aspirations in our students to create a world that is environmentally sustainable, ecologically feasible, culturally sensitive, socially acceptable and economically viable.”
Professor Meyers’ impressive academic career includes co-authoring the textbook “Biology” which is used in most first-year biology courses across Australian universities.
He won the prestigious Pearson Uniserve Award for “outstanding contributions to science students’ learning” in 2002, gained one of only seven national Australian Awards for University Teaching in 2004 and recently became a Fellow of the Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia.
Professor Meyers also won numerous awards when he worked at QUT from 1999-2005, including the QUT Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award in 2003 and several Lecturer of the Year awards from QUT’s Student Guild.
Throughout his career, Professor Meyers also has gained almost $1.5 million in competitive research funding in the areas of environmental and ecological science and science education.
Professor Meyers said he was keen to work closely with Education Queensland and the Queensland College of Teachers in boosting USC’s education programs, and to expand the strong scientific research links that USC has with the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries and the CSIRO.
“I’m looking forward to working with my team of staff at USC in developing programs that strongly reflect the research and teaching strengths of the school and which will become known nationally for producing excellent graduates in education and science,” he said.
“Our focus will be to guide the learning of future educators and scientists as they learn the skills and capabilities they will need to shape the future.
“Our multi-disciplinary programs in both science and education will allow graduates to think broadly and to creatively address the challenges the future holds.”
— Terry Walsh