Eileen van der Flier-Keller

Areas of interest

My research focuses on Earth science education and empowering K-12 teachers, pre-service teachers, and educators in informal learning environments to teach Earth science. By supporting teachers and educators, the goal is to encourage experiential, engaging and student-centred experiences for youth in Earth science, thereby increasing Earth science literacy and awareness of the role of Earth science in their lives.

From 2007-2011, I co-directed the NSERC funded Pacific Centre for Research in Youth Science Teaching and Learning (CRYSTAL), a collaboration between UVic, SFU and VIU Science, Engineering and Education faculty, and the community (including schools, teachers, local government e.g. CRD and not for profits organisations) whose goal was to promote science teaching and learning in formal (K-12) and informal learning environments and to improve understanding of how to enrich the STEM experience of our youth.

As a new member of the SFU community, I am looking for motivated, passionate graduate students to work on teacher empowerment in science, and developing relevant, engaging classroom, lab and field activities and resources to inspire young people in science.

Education

• B.A. Hons., Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, 1980
• Ph.D., University of Western Ontario, Canada, 1985