Contemporary Approaches to Research Symposium

Each year the ‘Contemporary Approaches to Research (CAR) in Mathematics, Science, Health and Environmental Education’ symposium focuses on practical and theoretical aspects of a range of research methodologies – such as cross-cultural perspectives, activity theory, capturing complexity, classroom video analysis, quantitative methods, and interviewing – which are discussed in a lively, informal setting.

The program will include two keynote speakers and the themed sessions.

The program starts at 9.00 am and concludes at 5.00 pm each of the two days.

Presentations at the symposium will be grouped into sessions of two to four with similar methodological foci, designed to promote substantive discussion of a methodological issue. Presentations might focus on a) details and settings of the application of a methodology in ways that unpack how the methodology can operate in different contexts, or b) a particular methodological issue, problem, or strategic decision that explores or extends a methodology. The methodological issues should be broadly related to mathematics, science, health, or environmental education. The presentations should provide a grounded practitioner’s perspective.

Following each group of presentations, there will be the opportunity for extended discussion of the focus methodological issue, which may explore different approaches within the methodology (in research design, instruments, theoretical framing, or approaches to analysis), or different methodological approaches to a problem (for instance making sense of teacher practice, or tracking change in learners).

Presentations will be 12 minutes in duration and should briefly outline the research question being addressed and may include the findings or likely outcomes of the research, but should focus mainly on the research methodology. Reports on work in progress are welcome but the focus is on the methodology.

Sara Tolbert (PhD) is Professor of Science and Environmental Education and Associate Dean (Research) at the University of Canterbury in Aotearoa New Zealand. Drawing on critical feminist methodologies and participatory research approaches, her work reimagines science education through 'education from below' - collaborating with school, community, and Indigenous partners to explore transdisciplinary and multilogical approaches to science learning. Prior to joining UC's Faculty of Education in 2019, she was Associate Professor at The University of Arizona, following a decade of teaching science, environmental studies, and ESOL in Mexico, Guatemala, New York, and Atlanta. She earned her PhD in Science Education and Social Contexts from UC-Santa Cruz, MEd from the University of Georgia, and BA in Environmental Studies from UC-Boulder. Sara co-founded Science Educators for Equity, Diversity, and Social Justice (SEEDS), co-directs UC's Learning for Earth Futures research cluster, and co-leads the Ōtautahi Food Justice Research Collaborative within UC's Community and Urban Resilience Initiative.

Dr. Matt Sexton is a Senior Lecturer at Australian Catholic University (ACU) where he directs the Mathematics Teaching and Learning Centre (MTLC). His research, using qualitative methodologies informed by cultural-historical activity theory (CHAT), examines how mathematics leaders in schools lead the development of mathematics education practice. Matt uses CHAT concepts to explain how mathematics leaders engage teachers in pedagogical reasoning as a form of professional practice, and how those leaders contribute to the sustainability of professional development projects. In 2024, Matt won the MERGA Early Career Researcher Award for outstanding conference paper and presentation. Matt partners with several education systems across Australia, supporting school mathematics leaders in their advancement of practice development in mathematics education.

If you are interested in presenting at this symposium please register your expression of interest by Friday 10 October 2025 on the Re-Imagining Futures in STEME website ( https://deakinsteme.org/) which provides online submission.

Presentations should be no longer than 12 minutes in duration (further details will be provided upon acceptance of your proposal). Presentations should briefly outline the research question being addressed, and may include the findings or likely outcomes of the research but should focus mainly on the research methodology. Reports on work in progress are welcome.

You may choose to pre-record presentations. This is essential for all online presenters. The links will be included in the program and the recording will be played on the day. During the presentation the chat feature of Zoom can be used to start the conversations. Questions can be addressed by typing in the chat and in the following discussion. A feature of the CAR Symposium program is the rich and collegial discussion that follows the presentations in the session.

Main image attribution

Sunflower Spiral, Clay Junell, Flicker, 5 November 2008. Image sourced from Wikimedia Commons.

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