Dr Melissa Glackin
Reader in Science & Environmental Education
Research interests
- Education
- Environment
Biography
Before joining King’s College London Melissa's previous posts included secondary science teacher in inner London and project officer for London Outdoor Science (Field Studies Council) where she wrote several outdoor curriculums.
Between 2018-2023 Melissa was a trustee at the London Wildlife Trust and was an invited fellow of the National Association of Environmental Education (NAEE) and London Environmental Education Forum (LEEF). Alongside her research, these experiences inform Melissa's teaching responsibilities.
Research
Melissa is interested in why teachers teach what they do, and how they do, within the fields of science education and environmental education particularly related to out-of-classroom teaching. To understand teaching behaviour her research has drawn on concepts such as teacher’s beliefs and teacher self-efficacy and she has used ideas around power as theorised by Foucault and Bernstein.
Melissa's research is often situated within professional development contexts or in secondary school formal education contexts - in and outside school. For example, she conducted research on secondary science teachers participating in a two-year professional development programme focused on teaching science in school grounds. In parallel with this research, Melissa and colleagues have developed resources and a programme that support a teacher’s professional development outside the classroom.
Her current research seeks to understand the current state of environmental education in secondary schools in England and in Japan. This research has been funded by awards from the British Academy/Leverhulme and the Japanese Promotion of Science.
Teaching
Melissa is the Director of the MA in STEM Education programme. Previous posts include: Science PGCE Director (2013-2016) and Biology PGCE Director (2011-2022).
Melissa teaches/assesses across several programmes including:
She coordinates the MA modules (30 credits):
- Principles and Policy of STEM Education
- Environment, Sustainability and the Role of Education
- Research Methods & Dissertation (STEM Education pathway)
PhD supervision
Melissa supervises MPhil/PhD education students. Current PhD students' research areas include the influence of urban children’s experiences on formal outdoor learning; the roots of climate change education; the role of gender in Forest Schools, environmental education intentions and outcomes; and the role of curiosity in science education. Several students are funded by the Rosalind Driver Studentship and LISS Studentship.
Further information
For further details please see Melissa's Research Staff Profile.
Research
Centre for Research in Education in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (CRESTEM)
Centre for Research in Education in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (CRESTEM)
Understanding environmental education in secondary schools
This project explored the impact of the curriculum changes on the current state of environmental education provision across secondary schools in England.
Project status: Completed
Climate & sustainability researchers at King’s
King's researchers working across climate and sustainability
News
New online course developed from King's academics' resource book
Following the release of the sixth edition of resource book 'Becoming a Teacher', staff from the School of Education Community and Society have developed a...
Announcing the 2024 Scholarships for the STEM Education MA
13 scholarships are available to commence the STEM Education MA in September 2024 covering 70% of the fees, equivalent to c.£7k.
How the climate crisis is a growing concern for future STEM educators
Almost half of STEM Education MA students at King’s have chosen to write their dissertations on environmental and climate change education in 2023, reflecting...
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.
Change your life with a scholarship to study STEM education
For the fourth year running, we are offering 15 scholarships covering 70% of the tuition fees to teachers working in state funded schools in England to study...
King's student reaches finals of Mayor's entrepreneur contest with science subscription box idea
Chemistry teacher and King’s student Francis Jones earned a place in the finals of the Mayor’s Entrepreneur 2022 programme competition with his STEM@Home...
Scholarships available for the STEM Education MA
We are offering 15 scholarships covering 70% of the tuition fees to teachers based in England who want to do an MA in STEM Education.
Events
Heartwood essay collections: Educators’ insights into environmental education
In this CRESTEM seminar Melissa Glackin, Shirin Hine and Sophie Perry explore how the Heartwood essay collection project enabled insights from the dense...
What role does education research play in teacher education? A celebration of ‘Becoming a Teacher’
This book launch will celebrate the publication of Becoming A Teacher and include a panel discussion on the role of education research in teacher training..
Please note: this event has passed.
MA in STEM Education 2022 Annual Celebration
Join us to celebrate the importance of STEM literacy
Please note: this event has passed.
Features
Distilling rich knowledges from academia
A tree's heartwood is the dense, mature wood found at its centre. But how can we learn from this to create a stronger future together?
It's Just Research, Ep. 8: Towards critical and transformative environmental pedagogies
Dr Owens and Dr Glackin discuss how transformative pedagogy is needed for environmental education
Students celebrate their joint collection of essays on environmental education
Heartwood Volumes 1 & 2 are a collection of personal heartfelt reflections aimed on environmental education written by students
Watch introductory videos to modules available on your Master's in education at King's
Dr Melissa Glackin and Dr Richard Brock, from the School of Education, Communication & Society, lead the modules of Environment, Sustainability and the Role...
Q&A with alumni: How an MA in STEM Education acted as a catalyst to launch into new adventures
Aylin Ozkan and Francis Jones, two recent alumni of the STEM Education MA, reflect on how the Master’s has given them the knowledge and confidence to explore...
How industry and academia are joining forces to equip STEM teachers for classrooms of the future
The first cohort of students has just completed a new MA in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education that prepares educators to...
Research
Centre for Research in Education in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (CRESTEM)
Centre for Research in Education in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (CRESTEM)
Understanding environmental education in secondary schools
This project explored the impact of the curriculum changes on the current state of environmental education provision across secondary schools in England.
Project status: Completed
Climate & sustainability researchers at King’s
King's researchers working across climate and sustainability
News
New online course developed from King's academics' resource book
Following the release of the sixth edition of resource book 'Becoming a Teacher', staff from the School of Education Community and Society have developed a...
Announcing the 2024 Scholarships for the STEM Education MA
13 scholarships are available to commence the STEM Education MA in September 2024 covering 70% of the fees, equivalent to c.£7k.
How the climate crisis is a growing concern for future STEM educators
Almost half of STEM Education MA students at King’s have chosen to write their dissertations on environmental and climate change education in 2023, reflecting...
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.
Change your life with a scholarship to study STEM education
For the fourth year running, we are offering 15 scholarships covering 70% of the tuition fees to teachers working in state funded schools in England to study...
King's student reaches finals of Mayor's entrepreneur contest with science subscription box idea
Chemistry teacher and King’s student Francis Jones earned a place in the finals of the Mayor’s Entrepreneur 2022 programme competition with his STEM@Home...
Scholarships available for the STEM Education MA
We are offering 15 scholarships covering 70% of the tuition fees to teachers based in England who want to do an MA in STEM Education.
Events
Heartwood essay collections: Educators’ insights into environmental education
In this CRESTEM seminar Melissa Glackin, Shirin Hine and Sophie Perry explore how the Heartwood essay collection project enabled insights from the dense...
What role does education research play in teacher education? A celebration of ‘Becoming a Teacher’
This book launch will celebrate the publication of Becoming A Teacher and include a panel discussion on the role of education research in teacher training..
Please note: this event has passed.
MA in STEM Education 2022 Annual Celebration
Join us to celebrate the importance of STEM literacy
Please note: this event has passed.
Features
Distilling rich knowledges from academia
A tree's heartwood is the dense, mature wood found at its centre. But how can we learn from this to create a stronger future together?
It's Just Research, Ep. 8: Towards critical and transformative environmental pedagogies
Dr Owens and Dr Glackin discuss how transformative pedagogy is needed for environmental education
Students celebrate their joint collection of essays on environmental education
Heartwood Volumes 1 & 2 are a collection of personal heartfelt reflections aimed on environmental education written by students
Watch introductory videos to modules available on your Master's in education at King's
Dr Melissa Glackin and Dr Richard Brock, from the School of Education, Communication & Society, lead the modules of Environment, Sustainability and the Role...
Q&A with alumni: How an MA in STEM Education acted as a catalyst to launch into new adventures
Aylin Ozkan and Francis Jones, two recent alumni of the STEM Education MA, reflect on how the Master’s has given them the knowledge and confidence to explore...
How industry and academia are joining forces to equip STEM teachers for classrooms of the future
The first cohort of students has just completed a new MA in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education that prepares educators to...