Dr Sean Perera

BSc (Bangalore), MSc (Peradeniya), PhD (ANU)
Academic Sub Dean & Program Convenor
ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences

Areas of expertise

  • Multicultural, Intercultural And Cross Cultural Studies 200209
  • Comparative And Cross Cultural Education 130302
  • Teacher Education And Professional Development Of Educators 130313
  • Education Assessment And Evaluation 130303
  • Communication And Media Studies 2001
  • Migrant Cultural Studies 200208

Biography

Dr Sean Perera is an internationally recognised expert in cross-cultural communication. His research and teaching explore STEAM communication with culturally and linguistically diverse audiences, with a special focus on teacher professional development and migrants from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Sean is presently the Academic Sub Dean of ANU Graduate Studies Select, and the Program Convenor of ANU Bachelor of Studies. He has held several academic leadership positions at ANU, including Convenor of the Bachelor of Philosophy Honours at the College of Arts and Social Sciences, and International Programs Convenor for Science Communication at the College of Science. Sean believes strongly in enabling not only his students but also his peers to achieve their full potential, and he is currently a Custodian and former Co-chair of NECTAR - the network for early career academics at ANU.

Before he entered the then emerging scholarly discipline of science communication, in which he earned his PhD from ANU, Sean worked as a research scientist in the South Asia after completing a triple major in microbiology, chemistry and zoology.

Some of his significant achievements are listed below:

  • Colleges of Science Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning (2015)
  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy UK (since 2015)
  • ANU Vice-Chancellor's Team Award for Public Policy and Outreach (2015)
  • Leader of Opening Doors Project - engaging disadvantaged, young immigrants with Australian science (since 2012)
  • Co-author of Federal Government commissioned Inspiring Australia Developing Evidence Base for Science Engagement Report (2012)
  • Edward Gray Memorial Prize - Australia Sri Lanka Council for promoting bi-lateral relations through science communication (2007)
  • Total grant funding exceeding A$150,000 for science communication research and outreach, procured from funding bodies in Australia and internationally.

 

 

Researcher's projects

  • Opening Doors: Science Engagement for Young Humanitarian Immigrants
  • Science Communicators in School: An evidence-based participatory approach towards secondary science teaching
  • Attitudes to Science Education: Comparing Taiwanese and Australian Perspectives
  • The Two Way Project: Democratising the University through New Media and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art

 

Current student projects

 

 


de Kauwe

Publications

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Updated:  29 September 2023 / Responsible Officer:  Director (Research Services Division) / Page Contact:  Researchers