Rate My Professor Yvonne Zeegers

Dr. Yvonne Zeegers is a distinguished educator and researcher in science education, currently serving as an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of South Australia, which has integrated into Adelaide University. Her career began as a primary school teacher, followed by roles as a Curriculum and Project Officer for the South Australian Department of Education. From 2004 to 2007, she was AusAID’s Pre-service Adviser in Regions 11, 12, and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao in the Southern Philippines. At UniSA's School of Education, she advanced to Program Director for the Bachelor of Education programs in Early Childhood, Primary, and Primary-Middle years. Zeegers holds key leadership positions outside academia, including Chair of the Australian Foundation for Fostering Learning in the Philippines (AFFLIP), where she coordinates the Schools Learning Network and co-coordinates the RESI program. She is also a Board member of Educators SA, chairing the Pre-Service Action Team (PAT), and an engaged member of the South Australian Science Teachers Association (SASTA), serving on its Membership and Services Reference Group and recipient of the SASTA Honour Award in 2020 and the SASTA Medal.

Zeegers' research specializations encompass inquiry-based pedagogies in primary science education, STEM education—particularly addressing challenges for females and low socioeconomic status students—education for sustainable development, and professional learning for teachers through citizen science. Notable publications include “Who’s asking the questions in classrooms? Exploring teacher practice and student engagement in generating engaging and intellectually challenging questions” (2019, International Journal of Science Education); “Exploring the ‘Hard Facts’ around STEM in Australia: Females, Low Socioeconomic Status and Absenteeism” (2018); “Challenging students’ perceptions of sustainability using an Earth Systems Science approach” (2015); “Students’ perceptions of education for sustainable development” (2014, International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education); and “‘Operation Magpie’: Inspiring Teachers’ Professional Learning Through Environmental Science” (2012, Australian Journal of Environmental Education). Her contributions extend to collaborative projects such as the CESA STEM Project with Catholic Education SA and action research initiatives with schools, influencing pedagogical practices and promoting inclusive STEM engagement in Australian education.