Associate Professor Alberto Bellocchi

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PhD (Queensland University of Technology), BSc(Hons) (James Cook Uni. of North Qld), BEd (James Cook Uni. of North Qld)

Associate Professor Alberto Bellocchi has an on-going academic position in the Faculty of Education at the Queensland University of Technology.  In his on-going research A/Prof. Bellocchi investigates the complexities of science teaching and learning in high school and pre-service teacher education settings through the analysis of classroom interactions. Alberto is a recipient of a research fellowship funded within the Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (2016-2018) scheme provided by the Australian Research Council. During this time, his research will focus on uncovering the interplay between social bonds (relationships), emotional experiences, and constructing science knowledge. A second major line of research focuses on science inquiry in school and university settings. His work has made contributions to understandings of the roles of social bonds and emotions as enacted classroom practices for learning and teaching science. He has also advanced theories of interaction to explain science teaching and learning encounters and made contributions to the theorisation of emotions. Through his substantive academic position, A/Prof. Bellocchi has taught in the area of logics of inquiry (research methods and design) and science curriculum studies for secondary preservice teachers. He is the leader of the STEM Education Research Group (2018-2019) based within the Faculty of Education. Before working at QUT he taught senior chemistry and junior science in an Education Queensland school for 8 years. He is lead co-editor of the Springer volume Exploring Emotions, Aesthetics and Wellbeing in Science Education Research. A/Prof. Bellocchi serves as a Lead Editor for the Q1 journal Cultural Studies of Science Education, and as a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Research in Science Teaching (Q1. #1 journal in science education based on Scimago).

Additional information

My research, beginning with my Doctoral thesis, operates at the nexus of theory and practice. Understandings about the interrelated nature of theory and practice in science education serve as referents for my teaching in the undergraduate preservice courses as well as the research courses that I teach. I conduct research in high-school  (secondary) and university settings providing insights into teaching and learning for the immediate communities in which I conduct this work and also to the broader educational community through dissemination of research outcomes at conferences and through publications in international journals. In addition to these forms of authentic engagement with the teaching profession, I participate in various committees on curriculum design and assessment. This provides a level of engagement with policy makers as well as designers of curriculum and assessment at State and National levels.

Type
Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
Reference year
2017
Details
2016 Best Publication Award. Selected through peer-review of 2016 articles by international committee from journal editorial board.
Type
Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
Reference year
2016
Details
Vice-Chancellor's Award for Excellence- Research, Learning and Teaching.
Type
Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
Reference year
2014
Details
2014 Higer Education Research Network Best Publication. Award in Early Career Category
Type
Editorial Role for an Academic Journal
Reference year
2014
Details
Lead Editor- Cultural Studies of Science Education
Type
Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
Reference year
2013
Details
Vice Chancellor's Service Award
Type
Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
Reference year
2013
Details
TEACHING EXCELLENCE Early Career Award
Type
Advisor/Consultant for Industry
Reference year
2011
Details
ASERA representative on the Advisory Committee of the Australian National Curriculum (Chemistry).
Type
Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
Reference year
2009
Details
QUT Faculty of Education Outstanding Thesis Award
Type
Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
Reference year
2009
Details
QUT Outstanding Thesis Award
Title
Engaging Science Students Emotionally by Fostering Positive Social Bonds
Primary fund type
CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
Project ID
DE160101053
Start year
2016
Keywords
Title
Emotional Learning in Socioscientific Issues for Enhancement of Scientific Literacy
Primary fund type
CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
Project ID
LP110200368
Start year
2012
Keywords
Scientific literacy; Imaginative Engagement; Emotions and Emotional Climate; Socioscientific Issuse
Title
Eventful Learning in Quality Pre-service Science Teacher Education
Primary fund type
CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
Project ID
DP120100369
Start year
2012
Keywords
Science Teacher Education; Emotional Arousal; Emotional Climate; Eventful Learning; Classroom Interactions
  • UNDERSTANDING STUDENTS'S SOCIAL BONDS AND METACOGNITION AS CONTEMPORANEOUS PHENOMENA IN MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE
    PhD, Principal Supervisor
    Other supervisors: Dr James Davis
  • Exploring the conception of Nature of Science among Pre-Service Science Teachers in Bhutan
    Professional Doctorate, Principal Supervisor
    Other supervisors: Dr James Davis