
Dr Elizabeth Rushton
Former Lecturer in Geography Education
- Former Subject Director Geography PGCE
Research interests
- Education
Contact details
Biography
Dr Elizabeth Rushton's research interests are focused in geography and science education, specifically the professional development of teachers, student participation in research, and environmental education.
Recent research on Education for Environmental Sustainability has been funded by BERA whilst the ESRC have funded an 18-month project to support teachers who trained during the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Elizabeth joined King’s in 2019 as a Research Associate, working as part of the COMnPlay-Science EU H2020 funded project. This research explores the design of making, tinkering and coding spaces and the extent to which they engender youth engagement with science. View the COMnPLAYScience website.
Between May 2020 and April 2022, Elizabeth was Subject Director of the Geography PGCE Programme. She has also been Managing Editor for the Routes, the Journal for Student Geographers, which published a Special Issue with contributions from teachers in January 2022.
Elizabeth and two of her PGCE students spoke on a podcast about the challenges and opportunities of training to be a geography teacher during a pandemic. You can listen to the podcast episode here.
Prior to joining King’s, Elizabeth was Director of Evaluation for the Institute for Research in Schools where she oversaw the evaluation of school science education programmes that involved over 300 schools and 25 universities.
In 2014, Elizabeth was awarded a PhD in Geography from the University of Nottingham and in 2015 she qualified as a geography teacher, teaching in secondary schools in Kent.
She was a member of the Centre for Research in Education in Science, Technology and Mathematics (CRESTEM) and the Environmental Education Research Group.
For more details of her publications and research, see Elizabeth's research staff profile on PURE.
Elizabeth has now moved to the IOE, UCL’s Faculty of Education and Society, as Associate Professor.
Research

Centre for Research in Education in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (CRESTEM)
Centre for Research in Education in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (CRESTEM)

King’s International Education Research Network
The King’s International Education Research Network explores key areas of international education.

COM n PLAY Science
Learning science the fun and creative way: coding, making and play as vehicles for informal science learning in the 21st century.
Project status: Ongoing

Sustaining teacher quality and retention post-pandemic
This project examines the impact of the substantial changes and sustained disruption caused by Covid-19 to the development of secondary school teachers.
Project status: Completed

Knowing through Making
Knowing through Making Research Group for the Centre for Education

Climate researchers at King’s
King's researchers working across climate and sustainability
News
Research-informed primer book for teachers now up-to-date with latest educational issues
The School of Education, Communication & Society (ECS) at King’s College London has come together to celebrate the publication of the 6th edition of Becoming...

Key resource for new teachers now updated with contemporary issues in education
The sixth edition of Becoming a Teacher – Issues in Secondary Education has been published, now including new chapters on recent educational issues.

New series of climate education conversations launched to support educators
Science education researchers from King's College London and the University of York have partnered to launch a new series of online workshops to bring...

Open Consultation: Understanding and mitigating the impact of COVID-19 disruption on trainee and early career teachers in secondary schools
Between 23 February and 28 April, educators can take part in an online, open consultation to share their views on the findings from a research project which...

New event series: a twilight speaker programme for all geography teachers
In January and February 2022, the Geography PGCE programme will be hosting five online talks to support secondary school geography teachers – and the first...

Supporting newly qualified and trainee teachers to overcome pandemic challenges
A new research project led by the School of Education, Communication & Society aims to develop recommendations to support new secondary school teachers as...

Events

Making, maker pedagogy, and education: lessons learned and future directions
Dr Shawn Bullock shares some of the results of a three-year inquiry into the nature and potential of what he defines as "maker pedagogy".
Please note: this event has passed.

The vital role of creativity and play in non-formal and informal STEM learning
A webinar on the role of creativity and play in non-formal and informal STEM learning
Please note: this event has passed.

Understanding secondary school teacher identity through the lens of the social identity approach: insights for teacher education
Dr Elizabeth Rushton will explore how the Social Identity Approach (SIA) might provide a useful lens through which to consider secondary school teacher...
Please note: this event has passed.
Features
Geography teachers as researchers: creating a new opportunity for teacher research
In January 2022, we have published a special issue of the magazine Routes, with our first collection of articles authored by teachers.

New journal offers unique opportunity to students and sixth formers
Two academics in the School of Education, Communication & Society talk about their Journal.

How creativity is flowing in the Maker Lab – even during the COVID-19 pandemic
Dr Lizzie Rushton outlines the importance of making and creating in the MA in STEM Education
Research

Centre for Research in Education in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (CRESTEM)
Centre for Research in Education in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (CRESTEM)

King’s International Education Research Network
The King’s International Education Research Network explores key areas of international education.

COM n PLAY Science
Learning science the fun and creative way: coding, making and play as vehicles for informal science learning in the 21st century.
Project status: Ongoing

Sustaining teacher quality and retention post-pandemic
This project examines the impact of the substantial changes and sustained disruption caused by Covid-19 to the development of secondary school teachers.
Project status: Completed

Knowing through Making
Knowing through Making Research Group for the Centre for Education

Climate researchers at King’s
King's researchers working across climate and sustainability
News
Research-informed primer book for teachers now up-to-date with latest educational issues
The School of Education, Communication & Society (ECS) at King’s College London has come together to celebrate the publication of the 6th edition of Becoming...

Key resource for new teachers now updated with contemporary issues in education
The sixth edition of Becoming a Teacher – Issues in Secondary Education has been published, now including new chapters on recent educational issues.

New series of climate education conversations launched to support educators
Science education researchers from King's College London and the University of York have partnered to launch a new series of online workshops to bring...

Open Consultation: Understanding and mitigating the impact of COVID-19 disruption on trainee and early career teachers in secondary schools
Between 23 February and 28 April, educators can take part in an online, open consultation to share their views on the findings from a research project which...

New event series: a twilight speaker programme for all geography teachers
In January and February 2022, the Geography PGCE programme will be hosting five online talks to support secondary school geography teachers – and the first...

Supporting newly qualified and trainee teachers to overcome pandemic challenges
A new research project led by the School of Education, Communication & Society aims to develop recommendations to support new secondary school teachers as...

Events

Making, maker pedagogy, and education: lessons learned and future directions
Dr Shawn Bullock shares some of the results of a three-year inquiry into the nature and potential of what he defines as "maker pedagogy".
Please note: this event has passed.

The vital role of creativity and play in non-formal and informal STEM learning
A webinar on the role of creativity and play in non-formal and informal STEM learning
Please note: this event has passed.

Understanding secondary school teacher identity through the lens of the social identity approach: insights for teacher education
Dr Elizabeth Rushton will explore how the Social Identity Approach (SIA) might provide a useful lens through which to consider secondary school teacher...
Please note: this event has passed.
Features
Geography teachers as researchers: creating a new opportunity for teacher research
In January 2022, we have published a special issue of the magazine Routes, with our first collection of articles authored by teachers.

New journal offers unique opportunity to students and sixth formers
Two academics in the School of Education, Communication & Society talk about their Journal.

How creativity is flowing in the Maker Lab – even during the COVID-19 pandemic
Dr Lizzie Rushton outlines the importance of making and creating in the MA in STEM Education