Internationaler Besuch am IPN: Im Gespräch mit Gastprofessor Jan van Driel

Beginnend am 20. Juni wird der niederländische Gastprofessor Jan van Driel von der University of Melbourne das IPN besuchen.

Jan van Driel ist Professor für Science Education an der University of Melbourne. An der dort angesiedelten Melbourne Graduate School of Education ist er außerdem Co-Leiter der Mathematics, Science & Technology Education Group (MSTEG). In seiner Forschungsarbeit beschäftigt Prof. van Driel sich mit der Schnittstelle zwischen naturwissenschaftlicher Bildung und Lehrkräfteausbildung und hat in diesem Bereich bereits in den führenden internationalen Fachzeitschriften veröffentlicht. Von 2016 bis 2022 war er außerdem selbst Mitherausgeber des International Journal of Science Education.

Zurzeit arbeitet Prof. van Driel eng mit der IPN-Abteilung Didaktik der Biologie und dort insbesondere mit dem stellvertretenden Abteilungsdirektor Prof. Dr. Moritz Krell zusammen. Seit Beginn des Jahres 2023 unterstützt er die Abteilung als internationaler Gastprofessor. Im Rahmen dieser Gastprofessur kommt er nun vom 20. Juni bis zum 14. Juli persönlich an das IPN nach Kiel, um sich mit Forschenden vor Ort auszutauschen und die Zusammenarbeit weiter voranzutreiben.

Wir haben mit Prof. van Driel gesprochen und ihn vor dem Antritt dieses einmonatigen Besuchs zu den Hintergründen des Besuchs, seiner Forschung sowie seinen Erwartungen befragt:

IPN: Welcome to the IPN in Kiel, Prof. Jan van Driel! We are pleased that you are visiting our institute. How did the visiting professorship and one-month research visit at the IPN come about?

Prof. Jan van Driel: My visiting professorship comes out of ongoing collaboration with Prof Moritz Krell. We have been doing collaborative research projects since 2017 when Moritz visited the Melbourne Graduate School of Education at the University of Melbourne. Since then, we have published several articles together and successful applications for research funding. Also, I hosted one of Moritz’ PhD students last year, and just recently one of my colleagues visited IPN.

IPN: What exactly will you be doing at the IPN? What will your day-to-day work include?

Prof. Jan van Driel: Our collaborative research focuses on the teaching of scientific reasoning competences, and how teachers can develop their expertise in this domain. So, some of work at IPN will focus on this area. In addition, I will be meeting with IPN staff and students to learn about research and give them feedback. I will also deliver a workshop on how to publish research in international journals. For this workshop, I will draw on my experience as editor and reviewer for international journals.

IPN: What are your research interests during your stay?

Prof. Jan van Driel: As I explained above, the teaching of scientific reasoning competences is one of my areas of interest. Related to this, I am also interested in the teaching of models and modelling in science education. More broadly, I have an interest in the development of science teachers’ knowledge and beliefs, for example in the context of initial teacher education or educational reform.

IPN: Do you have any wishes and expectations for your visit here at the IPN?

Prof. Jan van Driel: I am really looking forward to meeting and engaging with staff and students at IPN. I have always considered IPN as a world leading institute in research on science education and I have had connections with various staff at IPN for many years. I hope that my visit will boost the connections between IPN and the Melbourne Graduate School of Education, leading to more exchange of staff and students.

IPN: Thank you so much for giving us insight into you research and your cooperation with IPN!