Dr Sheeba Viswarajan

She has served as an elected member of the Royal Society of Chemistry's Education Division Council, representing higher education teacher training, and contributed to the RSC’s Chemistry for All Advisory Group, working to enhance chemistry engagement in underprivileged schools. She was instrumental in securing the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) approval for the Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE), making it the first in England to receive this recognition. 

Her leadership in the development of both 8-week and 24-week SKE courses at UEL was recognised by the RSC, with the approval marking a significant milestone in enhancing quality assurance within teacher training. This initiative not only strengthened science teacher training programmes but also paved the way for expanding practical science education to local colleges.

Dr Viswarajan' s research interests include enhancing practical science teaching, using cognitive science-based strategies for effective learning, integrating AI in education, and exploring employability and teacher education perspectives among international PGCE trainees. Her recent professional doctorate research explored the impact of the new science GCSE curriculum on the effectiveness of practical work in Key Stage 4 classes.

Her latest research examines curriculum inclusivity and teacher recruitment and retention challenges, particularly among international PGCE trainees and Early Career Teachers (ECTs). She is currently leading a longitudinal study investigating barriers to employment, the impact of financial incentives, and the role of systemic biases and racism in the professional trajectories of international teacher trainees.

This research aims to provide policy recommendations for decolonising Initial Teacher Training (ITT) curricula and fostering a more equitable and diverse teaching workforce. Dr Viswarajan’ s commitment to developing culturally sensitive curricula led to the organisation of the "Unveiling Hidden Faces in Science" session at the British Science Festival 2024, hosted at the University of East London. This event highlighted the contributions of underrepresented scientists, aiming to inspire a more inclusive perspective in science education. Dr Viswarajan also serves as a reviewer for the British Educational Research Journal (BERJ) and continues to work on projects aimed at enhancing inclusivity and representation in science education.