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