Dr Ralph Levinson

  • Qualifications and position:
    • Senior Lecturer in Education
  • Faculty:
    • Faculty of Culture and Pedagogy
  • Department:
    • Department of Geography, Enterprise, Mathematics and Science
  • Summary:
    • Having taught science in London comprehensive schools for 10 years I moved into higher education where my interests are teaching controversial issues, supporting pre-service teacher trainees, teaching the nature of risk and enhancing the relationship in schools between science and the arts.
  • Teaching:
    • • PGCE Science
      • MA in Science Education (course leader)
      • Supervision of PH.D students
      • MTeach
  • Research Projects:
    • • Pratt, D. and Levinson, R. (co-directors) Risk and the mathematical modelling of socio-scientific issues (The Wellcome Trust, £135k);
      • Levinson, R., Hand ,M. and Amos, R. Research Study of Perspectives on Science (POS) (University of York, 2007, £17k, project leader)
  • Postgraduate Research:
    • Research interests:
      My current research programme is in theorising and devising a pedagogy of risk, specifically in relation to socio-scientific issues. My broader research interests are in the learning and teaching of socio-scientific issues; supporting reflection and explaining in science beginning teachers; links between science education and the arts; how discussion boards on virtual learning environments promote learning.

      Doctoral Research students:
      • Sandra Campbell - Role of reflection in pre-service science teachers
      • Angela Hall - How do ICT tutorials affect students' ways of experiencing phenomena and developing understanding in advanced level biology?
      • Edward Mifsud - Visual Impact of wildlife dioramas on primary school children as expressed in drawing and conversation.
  • Professional Activities:
    • • I am on the editorial boards of two Brazilian journals: Alexandria and Pesquisa em educacao ambiental/Research in Environmental Education.
      • I regularly review for the following academic journals:
      Science Education, Science & Education, International Journal of Science Education, Teachers & Teaching Education, Journal of Moral Education.
      • I am a member of the Wellcome Trust Arts Awards panel.
      • I gave oral and written evidence to the House of Commons Science & Technology Select Committee (April 15th 2002)
  • Conferences/presentations:
    • • Genomics and the teaching of risk
      • Rethinking science curricula in the genomics era, FIsme/CGC workshop, University of Utrecht, 3rd December 2008
      • Research study on Perspectives on Science, International Organisation of Science and Technological education, Izmir, September 2008
      • Pigs, proteins and hot potatoes: what should we be teaching about them?, Biolive conference, Hamilton, New Zealand (Keynote speaker), July 2003.
  • Personal Country Knowledge:
    • Brazil and New Zealand: Teaching and learning socio-scientific issues.
  • Languages Spoken:
    • French (basic)
  • Languages Written:
    • French (basic)
      Hebrew (basic)
      Portuguese (basic)
Dr Ralph Levinson

Contact details

Contact details

  • Email:

  • Address:
  • Department of Geography, Enterprise, Mathematics and Science
    Institute of Education University of London
    20 Bedford Way
    London
    WC1H 0AL

  • Office Location:
  • Room 912a
    20 Bedford Way, WC1H 0AL

Publications

  • Levinson, R. and Neumann, T. (2008) 'Designing a mixed mode Masters module in Science Education to support shared construction of knowledge and critical reflection', Reflecting Education 4(1), 92-102.
  • Levinson, R. (2008) 'Promoting the role of the personal narrative in teaching', Science & Education 17(8-9), 855 - 871.
  • Levinson, R. (2006) 'Teachers' perceptions of the role of evidence in teaching socio-scientific controversial issues', The Curriculum Journal 17(3), 247-262.
  • Levinson, R. (2006) 'Towards a theoretical framework for teaching controversial socio-scientific issues', International Journal of Science Education 28(10), 1201-1224.
  • Levinson, R. (2007) 'Teaching controversial socio-scientific issues to gifted and talented students' In K.Taber (ed.), Science Education for Gifted Learners. London: RoutledgeFalmer.
  • Levinson, R. (2005) 'Planning for progression in science' In J. Frost and T. Turner (eds), Learning to Teach Science in the Secondary School. London: RoutledgeFalmer.
  • Levinson, R., Nicholson, H. and Parry, S. (eds) (2008) Creative Encounters: new conversations in science, education and the arts. London: Wellcome Trust.