ANU - Centre for the Public Awareness of Science

BSc (Microbiology), MSc (Agriculture)

Contact Details

Centre for the Public Awareness of Science Physics Link Building 38a, Science Road ANU College of Medicine, Biology and Environment ANU College of Physical Sciences Australian National University ACT 0200 Australia

Tel: +61 2 6125 1073
Fax: +61 2 6125 8991
Email: sean.perera@anu.edu.au

Current Positions

PhD Researcher, CPAS
Tutor: SCOM1001
Senior Demonstrator: BIOL1004 & BIOL1007

Current Research

Linking Science Teachers' Knowledge for Professional Empowerment

This project investigates, from a cross-cultural point of view, the effectiveness of the models employed to communicate science in the workshops offered by the Centre for the Public Awareness of Science (CPAS) to secondary school science teachers in Australia and internationally.

Personal Biography

Sean is an Associate Lecturer (part-time) in science communication. He has been teaching undergraduate courses at CPAS, for the past two years, and convenor for SCOM2001. He also demonstrates for BIOL1004 and BIOL1007 at the School of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the ANU.

Sean is a graduate in microbiology from Bangalore University . He completed his postgraduate studies at the University of Peradeniya , where he investigated nutrient-related physiological responses in the high-income export foliage Dracaena sanderiana. He later taught at the Faculty of Science at Peradeniya for two years before he joined the International Water Management Institute as Research Officer for the CGIAR Challenge Programme for Water and Food.

Publications, Conferences and Research Outputs

Conference Proceedings & Papers

Perera, S. (2009). Effective science communication practices and simple hands-on activities: two important elements of teacher professional development. In M.F. Costa, B.V. Dorrío & M.K..Patairiya (Eds), Proceedings, 6th International Conference on Hands-on Science. Ahmedabad: Hands on Science Network. pp.134-8

Perera, S., Stocklmayer, S. & Gore, M. (2007). 'Linking Teachers' Knowledge for Professional Empowerment'. In G. Venville & V. Dawson (Eds), Proceedings of CONASTA 56 and ICASE 2007 World Conference on Science and Technology Education (p. 350). Perth: Science Teachers' Association of Western Australia.

Perera, P.S.F. (2003). 'Effective teaching methods for vocabulary related to biology'. Proceedings of Conference in English Language Teaching (Poster). Bangkok: King Mongkut's University.

Perera, P.S.F. (2002). 'Teaching biology vocabulary in the English medium at tertiary level'. In R.Raheem & T.Kandiah (Eds), SLETA 2nd International Conference. (p. 25). Colombo: British Council.

Conference Chairs

Seminar Session: Moving to the Future. CONASTA 56 and ICASE 2007 World Conference on Science and Technology Education. Perth: Science Teachers' Association of Western Australia. (09.07.2007)

Workshop Facilitation

Creative Science Teaching Using Simple Materials Workshop. National Science Foundation, Colombo, Sri Lanka. (02.11.05)

Cascading Workshop on Active Teaching-Learning Approaches in Science. English Language Teaching Unit, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (18.10.2003)

Full Proposal Writing Workshop for Indo-Gangetic Basin: Challenge Programme on Water and Food. National Agriculture Science Council, New Delhi, India. (28–29.08. 2003)

Full Proposal Development Workshop: Challenge Programme. Head Quarters of the International Water Management Institute, Colombo, Sri Lanka. (13–15.08.2003)

Teaching Staff Development Workshop on Innovative Teaching Methods. English Language Teaching Unit, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. (21.02.2003)

Teaching Staff Development Workshop. English Language Teaching Unit, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. (20.08.2002)

Scholarly Papers

Gunasena, H.P.M., Peiris, B.C.N., & Perera, P.S.F. (2002). 'Identification of nutrient disorders in Dracaena sanderiana cv 'Gold". Sri Lankan Journal of Agricultural Science. 39(1):131-137.

Creative Works

DNA: Eat or not to eat (2006) World Wide Day in Science. University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.

Pillar Roots of Knowledge (2004) New Scientist Wellcome Trust, UK.

Consultant Research Reports

National science and technology policy draft for Sri Lanka (2006). National Science and Technology Commission, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Review of existing literature on formal science policy in the Pacific Islands: A research project for the UNESCO Apia’s programme on science policy development in the Pacific Islands (2006). UNESCO, Apia.

English language training program for National Youth Corps (2003). National Institute of Education, Maharagama, Sri Lanka.

Science needs for the new millennium: Young scientists' perspective (2002). National Science and Technology Commission, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Awards

Edward Gray Memorial Award 2007. Australia Sri Lanka Council. Melbourne, Australia.

In the media

Perera, S. (2009). A transit in Azkaban. Campus Review. Sydney: APN Educational Media. 06 October 2009, http://www.campusreview.com.au/pages/section/article.php?s=Comment&idArticle=13151

Perera, S. (2009). Tackling terrorism through transitions. Op Ed, The Canberra Times. Canberra: Fairfax Media. 21 August 2009, p.13.

Perera, S. (2009). Challenges for English medium instruction in Sri Lanka. Dimensions, July/August 2009, pp. 11-16.

Perera, S. (2009). Science communication and its implications for A/L students. Ceylon Daily News, Features, 22 June 2009, p. 16. http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/06/22/Fea12.asp

High marks at high cost? Do syllabus pressures get in the way of good teaching? (Sept /Oct 2008) ScienceWise, ANU College of Science Magazine http://sciencewise.anu.edu.au/articles/high%20marks

ANU College of Science student wins Edward Gray Memorial Prize (Dec 2007) Serendip News

Other Contributions

General course in international diplomacy (2003). Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute, Colombo, Sri Lanka.