Biography

Dr. Audrey O' Grady is a lecturer in Biology and Science Education at the University of Limerick since 2010. She is responsible for all of the Biology Pedagogy as well as being course director for the Science Education programme. She represents her department on the University Research Committee and is engaged in the screening of research proposals in the College of Science and Engineering. Her research expertise are in the fields of Science Education and Ecology (particularly Ant Ecology). She is currently supervising four postgraduate students and teaches on five undergraduate modules. She has been shortlisted for the Shannon Consortium Regional Teaching Excellence Award in both 2013 and 2014. At present she is the Irish PI on the Consus Tempus project Connecting Science- Society Collaborations for Sustainability Innovations.

Research Interests

My research focusses on misconceptions and active learning in Science Education and Ecology, particularly Ant Ecology.

Recent Graduates:

Elaine Feeney BSc(Ed.) MSc.

Thesis title: An Ecological Assessment of Rehabilitated Bauxite Residue to Determine Ecosystem Success

Current Students:

Elaine Galvin BSc.(Ed.). To determine and overcome misconceptions in Biology held by students and educators in the Irish schooling system. Funded by the Irish Research Council

Jennifer Butler BSc.(Ed.). Implementation of a Sustainable Health Framework into Science in Second Level Schools and its Integration in to Science Teacher Training. Funded by the Irish Research Council

Heather Merrick BSc.(Ed.). The identification of bat species and their prey items using PCR. Funded by the Department of Life Sciences Scholarship.

Gerard Finnegan BSc.(Ed.). The Use of Ecosystem Function Analysis to Determine the Rehabilitation Success of Industrial Waste Sites. Funded by the Irish Research Council

Peer Reviewed Journals

2015

THE MITE (ACARI: ORIBATIDA, MESOSTIGMATA) ASSEMBLAGES ASSOCIATED WITH LASIUS FLAVUS (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) NESTS AND SURROUNDING SOIL IN AN IRISH GRASSLAND

Arroyo, J,O'Grady, A,Vance, H,Bolger, T (2015) THE MITE (ACARI: ORIBATIDA, MESOSTIGMATA) ASSEMBLAGES ASSOCIATED WITH LASIUS FLAVUS (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) NESTS AND SURROUNDING SOIL IN AN IRISH GRASSLAND. Biology And Environment-Proceedings Of The Royal Irish Academy :17-28

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2015

Identification of Misconceptions in the Teaching of Biology

Galvin, E.; Mooney Simmie, G.; O'Grady, A. (2015) Identification of Misconceptions in the Teaching of Biology. Canadian Research & Development Center of Sciences and Cultures Higher Education of Social Science

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2015

An investigation into the prevalence of ecological misconceptions in upper secondary students and implications for pre-service teacher education

Butler, J,Simmie, GM,O'Grady, A (2015) An investigation into the prevalence of ecological misconceptions in upper secondary students and implications for pre-service teacher education. European Journal Of Teacher Education :300-319

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2015

An investigation into the prevalence of ecological misconceptions in upper secondary students and implications for pre-service teacher education.

Butler, J. ; Mooney Simmie, G. ; O'Grady, A. (2015) An investigation into the prevalence of ecological misconceptions in upper secondary students and implications for pre-service teacher education.. Taylor and Francis European Journal Of Teacher Education :300-319

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2014

Why change to active learning? Pre-service and in-service science teachers' perceptions

O'Grady, A,Simmie, GM,Kennedy, T (2014) Why change to active learning? Pre-service and in-service science teachers' perceptions. European Journal Of Teacher Education :35-50

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2014

An ecological assessment of rehabilitated bauxite residue

Courtney, R,Feeney, E,O'Grady, A (2014) An ecological assessment of rehabilitated bauxite residue. Ecological Engineering :373-379

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2014

Why change to active learning? Pre-service and in-service science teachers' perceptions.

O'Grady, A. ; Mooney Simmie, G. ; Kennedy, T. (2014) Why change to active learning? Pre-service and in-service science teachers' perceptions.. European Journal Of Teacher Education :35-50

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2013

The seed bank in soil from the nests of grassland ants in a unique limestone grassland community in Ireland

O'Grady, A,Breen, J,Harrington, TJ,Courtney, R (2013) The seed bank in soil from the nests of grassland ants in a unique limestone grassland community in Ireland. Ecological Engineering :58-64

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2011

Observations on mermithid parasitism (Nematoda: Mermithidae) in two species of Lasius ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

O'Grady, A; Breen, J (2011) Observations on mermithid parasitism (Nematoda: Mermithidae) in two species of Lasius ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal Of Natural History :2339-2345

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2010

Trophic relationships of grassland ants based on stable isotopes

O'Grady, A; Schmidt, O; Breen, J (2010) Trophic relationships of grassland ants based on stable isotopes. Pedobiologia :221-225

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Books

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Book Chapters

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Edited Books

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Other Journals

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Conference Publications

2015

NARST: A Worldwide Organization for Improving Science Teaching and Learning through Research, Chicago, USA.

Erduran, S., Kaya, E., Cetin, P. S., O'Grady, A., Leahy, K., Uworwabayeho, A., & Mutarutinya, V. (2015) NARST: A Worldwide Organization for Improving Science Teaching and Learning through Research, Chicago, USA..

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2012

22nd Annual Irish Environmental Researchers Colloquium

Feeney, E. O' Grady, A. Courtney, R. (2012) 22nd Annual Irish Environmental Researchers Colloquium.

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2007

17th Irish Environmental Researchers' Colloquium

O'Grady, A. Schmidt, O., Breen, J. (2007) 17th Irish Environmental Researchers' Colloquium.

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2005

Proceedings of the 3rd European Congress on Social Insects

O'Grady, A., Breen, J. (2005) Proceedings of the 3rd European Congress on Social Insects.

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2005

15th Irish Environmental Researchers¿ Colloquium

O¿Grady, A. and J. Breen (2005) 15th Irish Environmental Researchers¿ Colloquium. :108-*

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2005

3rd European Congress on Social Insects.

O¿Grady, A. and J. Breen (2005) 3rd European Congress on Social Insects.. :105-*

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2005

15th Irish Environmental Researchers' Colloquium

O'Grady, A., Breen J. (2005) 15th Irish Environmental Researchers' Colloquium.

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2004

14th Irish Environmental Researchers' Colloquium

O'Grady, A., Breen, J. (2004) 14th Irish Environmental Researchers' Colloquium.

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Conference Contributions

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Published Reports

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Editorials

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Book Reviews

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Other Publications

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