
Louise Kuchel
- Email:
- l.kuchel@uq.edu.au
- Phone:
- +61 7 336 51034
- Phone:
- +61 7 344 32650
Overview
Background
My current research is all about finding ways to improve teaching and student learning, with a focus on biology and other sciences. This is a new and exciting direction for me to which I and my group are now dedicated. Of particular interest to me is finding ways to improve communication abilities of science students through the design, testing and implementation of effective curricula, class activities and assessment methods. Naturally, no learning occurs in isolation, so my current research also looks at learning scientific reasoning, information literacy, and how to improve the relevance and authenticity of practical/lab classes and assessment tasks.
Previously my research focussed on using physiological approaches and techniques to address questions in ecology, conservation and aquaculture, especially in vertebrates living in extreme environments (see references for examples). I continue to be involved in biological research through teaching, co-supervision and examination of postgraduate students.
My current projects aim to find effective ways to...
- Improve abilities of first year biology students to work effectively in groups.
- Improve science students’ communication abilities through the development and implementation of a new 3rd year course titled Communicating in Science.
- Improve scientific reasoning and writing in first year biology students.
- Improve tutor support and consequently student learning through implementation of a program of tailored tutor professional development.
- Improve information literacy in first year biology students.
- Motivate students to improve their biological knowledge and use of modern communication technologies by implementing authentic assignments throughout the curriculum e.g., websites, video, blogs.
- Improve the ability of students to articulate the skills and knowledge they develop in undergraduate ecology research through the use of a skills portfolio.
- Improve student practice and confidence in avoiding plagiarism and adhering to academic integrity.
Availability
- Associate Professor Louise Kuchel is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science, University of Western Australia
- Bachelor (Honours), The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
- Postgraduate Diploma, The University of Queensland
Works
Search Professor Louise Kuchel’s works on UQ eSpace
2023
Book Chapter
Rhetoric, influence and persuasion
Kuchel, Louise and Rowland, Susan (2023). Rhetoric, influence and persuasion. Teaching science students to communicate: a practical guide. (pp. 11-19) edited by Susan Rowland and Louise Kuchel. Cham, Switzerland: Springer-Nature. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-91628-2_2
2023
Book Chapter
Getting students to express an opinion
O'Brien, Katherine, Kuchel, Louise and Rowland, Susan (2023). Getting students to express an opinion. Teaching science students to communicate: a practical guide. (pp. 118-128) edited by Susan Rowland and Louise Kuchel. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-91628-2_13
2023
Book Chapter
Learning to write from the way you read
Kuchel, Louise (2023). Learning to write from the way you read. Teaching science students to communicate: a practical guide. (pp. 153-157) edited by Susan Rowland and Louise Kuchel. Cham, Switzerland: Springer-Nature. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-91628-2
2023
Book Chapter
An introduction to science students and communication in the workplace
Kuchel, Louise and Rowland, Susan (2023). An introduction to science students and communication in the workplace. Teaching science students to communicate: a practical guide. (pp. 1-7) edited by Susan Rowland and Louise Kuchel. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-91628-2
2023
Book
Teaching science students to communicate: a practical guide
Susan Rowland and Louise Kuchel eds. (2023). Teaching science students to communicate: a practical guide. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-91628-2
2023
Book Chapter
How to be a functional team member
Rasmussen, Amanda and Kuchel, Louise (2023). How to be a functional team member. Teaching science students to communicate: a practical guide. (pp. 513-519) edited by Susan Rowland and Louise Kuchel. Cham, Switzerland: Springer-Nature. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-91628-2
2023
Conference Publication
HDR workshop: tips and hacks for making your writing sing
Kuchel, Louise (2023). HDR workshop: tips and hacks for making your writing sing. Australian and New Zealand Society for Comparative Physiology and Biochemistry, Gatton, QLD, Australia, 9-10 December 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
Chatting about the curriculum: teaching students to communicate - a practical guide
Kuchel, Louise and Rowland, Susan (2023). Chatting about the curriculum: teaching students to communicate - a practical guide. Biosciences Education Australia Network, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 14-15 December 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
Assessing effectiveness and continuously improving student leadership programs
Clarke, Aimee, Kuchel, Louise and Rowland, Susan (2023). Assessing effectiveness and continuously improving student leadership programs. Student Transition and Retention Success (STARS), Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 3-5 July 2023.
2020
Book Chapter
Insights for designing science communication training from formal science education: apply the mantra and be explicit
Kuchel, Louise (2020). Insights for designing science communication training from formal science education: apply the mantra and be explicit. Theory and best practices in science communication training. (pp. 104-121) edited by Todd P. Newman. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781351069366-8
2019
Journal Article
Teaching communication in general science degrees: highly valued but missing the mark
Stevens, Sarah, Mills, Rebecca and Kuchel, Louise (2019). Teaching communication in general science degrees: highly valued but missing the mark. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, 44 (8), 1-14. doi: 10.1080/02602938.2019.1578861
2018
Journal Article
CLIPS (Communication Learning in Practice for Scientists): a new online resource leverages assessment to help students and academics improve science communication
Rowland, Susan, Hardy, James, Colthorpe, Kay, Pedwell, Rhianna and Kuchel, Louise (2018). CLIPS (Communication Learning in Practice for Scientists): a new online resource leverages assessment to help students and academics improve science communication. Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education, 19 (1) 1466. doi: 10.1128/jmbe.v19i1.1466
2017
Journal Article
How do research-intensive research universities portray employability strategies? A review of their websites
Bennet, Dawn, Knight, Elizabeth, Divan, Aysha, Kuchel, Louise, Horn, Jody, van Reyk, David and Burke da Silva, Karen (2017). How do research-intensive research universities portray employability strategies? A review of their websites. Australian Journal of Career Development, 26 (2), 52-61. doi: 10.1177/1038416217714475
2016
Journal Article
Welcome to volume 24 number 3
Kuchel, Louise, Hergt, Janet and Beames, Stephanie (2016). Welcome to volume 24 number 3. International Journal of Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education, 24 (3), i-iii.
2016
Journal Article
Integrating communication skills into undergraduate science degrees: A practical and evidence-based approach
Mercer-Mapstone, Lucy D. and Kuchel, Louise J. (2016). Integrating communication skills into undergraduate science degrees: A practical and evidence-based approach. Teaching and Learning Inquiry, 4 (2), 1-14. doi: 10.20343/teachlearninqu.4.2.11
2015
Journal Article
Core skills for effective science communication: a teaching resource for undergraduate science education
Mercer-Mapstone, Lucy and Kuchel, Louise (2015). Core skills for effective science communication: a teaching resource for undergraduate science education. International Journal of Science Education, Part B: Communication and Public Engagement, 7 (2), 181-201. doi: 10.1080/21548455.2015.1113573
2015
Journal Article
Framing renewable energy: a comparative study of newspapers in Australia and Sweden
Djerf-Pierre, Monika, Cokley, John and Kuchel, Louise J. (2015). Framing renewable energy: a comparative study of newspapers in Australia and Sweden. Environmental Communication, 10 (5), 634-655. doi: 10.1080/17524032.2015.1056542
2015
Journal Article
Teaching scientists to communicate: evidence-based assessment for undergraduate science education
Mercer-Mapstone, Lucy and Kuchel, Louise (2015). Teaching scientists to communicate: evidence-based assessment for undergraduate science education. International Journal of Science Education, 37 (10), 1613-1638. doi: 10.1080/09500693.2015.1045959
2015
Journal Article
Cameras, competition and creativity: assessing 1st year ecology in the field
Kuchel, Louise, Wilson, Robbie S. and Ellis, William H. (2015). Cameras, competition and creativity: assessing 1st year ecology in the field. International Journal of Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education, 23 (2), 34-45.
2014
Journal Article
A Documentary video assignment to enhance learning in large first-year science classes
Kuchel, Louise J., Stevens, Sarah K., Wilson, Robbie and Cokley, John (2014). A Documentary video assignment to enhance learning in large first-year science classes. International Journal of Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education, 22 (4), 48-64.
Funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Louise Kuchel is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor Louise Kuchel directly for media enquiries about:
- Authentic assessment
- Biology education
- Communicating Science
- Environmental education
- Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
- Science communication
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