Dr Jane Essex
Reader
吃瓜tv Institute of Education
Personal statement
I am a Reader in education, with a specialism in inclusion in STEM. My current teaching and supervision responsibilities on the PGDE chemistry. I also contribute to the teaching on BA routes and MA programme, as well as supervising research students from BA through to PhD routes. I moved to 吃瓜tv University from Brunel University London. Prior to that I had been an Initial Teacher Education tutor at Keele University (Staffordshire).
I taught science in schools in various parts of England before moving to Higher Education and retain a keen interest in all aspects of school science.
My major professional and research interests, are inclusive science education, and the preparation of teachers to deliver an inclusive STEM curriculum, along with curriculum design and assessment. My primary focus in on science for learners with intellectual disabilities but my interest extends far more widely into the mechanisms by which some groups are excluded from science.
In addition, I am active in science outreach, for which I have achieved international recognition, and regularly run inclusive and accessible chemistry events at the 吃瓜tv, in conjunction with colleagues from chemistry and chemical engineering. I have worked with a range of visitor centres to develop their STEM outreach programmes, and have regularly collaborated with colleagues at sites of historic and cultural significance.
Prize And Awards
- Recipient
- 2023
- Recipient
- 20/5/2022
- Recipient
- 14/2/2022
- Recipient
- 7/5/2019
- Recipient
- 30/10/2018
- Recipient
- 12/9/2018
Qualifications
2001- 2005聽 Open University聽 Doctorate in Education, Can mentoring raise attainment in Science?
1997-2000聽聽 Open University聽 Master of Arts (Education)
1985-1986聽聽 Univ. of Newcastle-upon-Tyne聽 Post Graduate Certificate in Education
1982-1985聽聽 Univ. of London聽 Bachelor of Science (Hons), Toxicology and Pharmacology
Publications
- , ,
- Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (2026)
- Inclusive and Accessible Chemistry for Further and Higher Education Developments and Opportunities for Students with Disabilities (2026) (2026)
- Inclusive and Accessible Chemistry for Further and Higher Education Developments and Opportunities for Students with Disabilities (2026) (2026)
- , Haxton Katherine, Spagnoli Dino, Ross Kirsty, O'Donoghue Jean, Cunningham Laura, D'Agostino Alfred, Reden Patricia, Inskip Katherine, Cameron Audrey, Scanlon Erin
- Advances in Chemistry Education Series Advances in Chemistry Education Series, Vol 14 (2026)
- Inclusive and Accessible Chemistry for Further and Higher Education Developments and Opportunities for Students with Disabilities (2026) (2026)
- ,
- Scottish Educational Review Vol 56, pp. 92-115 (2025)
Research Interests
My research interests cluster around science education, specifically the impact of science outreach and inclusive science teaching. Related research areas include the preparation of teachers for inclusive practice.
Professional Activities
- Chair
- 18/12/2025
- Member
- 9/4/2025
- Speaker
- 14/2/2024
- Speaker
- 28/8/2023
- Speaker
- 23/8/2023
- Speaker
- 23/8/2023
Projects
- Cunningham, Margaret Rose (Principal Investigator) Rooney, Liam (Principal Investigator) Monachan, Nikki (CoPI) Coubrough, Katie (CoPI) Wahid, Maheen (CoPI) Tinto, Kirsty (CoPI) Glendinning, Nicola (Co-investigator) Keegan, Joe (Co-investigator) Panelli, Fiona (Co-investigator) Palin, Fiona (Co-investigator) Thompson, Crystal (Co-investigator) Essex, Jane (Co-investigator) Hendry, Pauline (Co-investigator)
- This education research project is funded by British Pharmacological Society to establish links with Vale of Leven Academy & Lennox Primary (West Dunbartonshire) and Queen Margaret Academy Supported Learning Centre (Ayr) to support student-led STEM Learning on the topic of Pharmacology.
This project involves staff and students across all levels of learning from primary school, secondary school, undergraduate to postgraduate higher education.
The project will use a combination of approaches such as 3D printing technology to address biomedical questions related to 'Space Medicine'. Twenty-two students (S4-S6) from Vale of Leven Academy (VOLA) will support the space-themed STEM activity design as they will go to NASA (Houston) as part of school-organised education trip in June 2025. - 01-Jan-2025 - 31-Jan-2025
- Ross, Kirsty (Principal Investigator) Birnie, Inge (Co-investigator) Essex, Jane (Co-investigator)
- 01-Jan-2022 - 30-Jan-2023
- Essex, Jane (Principal Investigator) Hendry, Martyn (Principal Investigator) Cunningham, Margaret Rose (Principal Investigator) Ivaturi, Aruna (Principal Investigator) Wang, Yirui (Principal Investigator) McQuilken, Natasha (Principal Investigator)
- The project considered how to enhance the sustainability and resilience of the STEM workforce in the twenty-first century. The opportunity to engage in meaningful work enhances individual health and well-being, as well as enhancing social cohesion and economic prosperity. Specifically, the project considered how technical expertise in industry and academia can be shared with people who are hugely under-represented in the STEM workforce despite their evident capabilities and interest in STEM. The scheme builds upon a highly successful STEM for sustainability summer school that ran last summer and will involve researchers who attended last year, along with others who expressed an interest in joining the project, plus pupils from South Ayrshire schools who have ASN. In addition, the scheme involved regional STEM employers, giving them a chance to develop their understanding of the capacities of diverse young people and their potential to contribute positively to their organisations.
- 01-Jan-2022 - 31-Jan-2023
- Essex, Jane (Co-investigator)
- 01-Jan-2022 - 31-Jan-2025
- Essex, Jane (Principal Investigator)
- 05-Jan-2022 - 31-Jan-2023
- Essex, Jane (Principal Investigator)
- 01-Jan-2021 - 30-Jan-2021
Contact
Dr
Jane
Essex
Reader
吃瓜tv Institute of Education
Email: jane.essex@strath.ac.uk
Tel: 444 8058