Contacts
Contact email:merryn.mckinnon@anu.edu.au
Contact phone:+61 2 6125 4951
Location:Peter Baume Building 42a,
BSc Hons (Marine Science), Grad Dip (Sci Comm), Masters Journalism, PhD (Sci Comm)
Lecturer
Honours Convener
Dr Merryn McKinnon's original degree was in marine science where, after the novelty of moving intertidal snails with a paint scraper wore off, she discovered that talking about her research to other people brought her far closer to her conservation goals than her actual project ever could.
This led her to the field of science communication where she has stayed ever since, working in a range of roles and countries. Merryn enjoys the diverse issues science communication allows her to explore, applying her innovative thinking and problem solving skills.
Her experience outside of academia informs her teaching, embedding her courses in 'real world' scenarios with an emphasis on engaging students in practical application of theory wherever possible.
She was one of 76 women selected to participate in the inaugural journey of Homeward Bound - a state of the art leadership and strategy initiative for women in science. She was the science communication coordinator for the 2018 Homeward Bound (HB2) intake, facilitating the further science communication skill development of those current and emerging leaders to help shape the future.
Merryn believes that communication is an essential part of the scientific process, and can create change which benefits us all.
Research interests
The relationship between science, publics and the media; public engagement in science inlcuding influences on beliefs and perceptions of science; factors affecting interpretation and understanding of communication messages; informal education; health communication; and the impact of science communication skill development and activities with a particular focus on gender.
Projects
- Principal investigator, Influences on the science teaching self-efficacy beliefs of Australian primary school teachers
- Supervisor, 3D Images and Models in Chemistry
- Supervisor, Can hype be a force for good?
- Supervisor, Communicating biosecurity information to Australian-registered veterinary practitioners
- Supervisor, How the sitcom The Big Bang Theory influences audience perceptions of science and scientists
- Supervisor, Impacts of citizen science on volunteers
- Supervisor, Mapping and tracking engagement in controversial scientific discourses
- Supervisor, Navigating nutrition: web content analysis to inform development of the Shared Decision Making model
- Supervisor, Parental values, preferences and issues with sex education in Australian schools
- Supervisor, Reshaping the arena: Engagement as a threshold concept for science education and science communication
- Supervisor, Science for sailors: science communication for a targeted audience
- Supervisor, Science writing: An examination into science writer writing behaviours, motivations, and source preferences
- Supervisor, Science, Superfoods and Society: the intersection of scientific knowledge, public awareness and regulatory policy
- Supervisor, STEM Skills in Australian High Schools
- Supervisor, Teaching STEM in contemporary Australia
- Supervisor, Vaccination: Perceptions, Attitudes and Behaviour
- Supervisor, Zoo design: connecting zoo visitors with conservation messages
Peer-reviewed journal papers
- McDonald, I. & McKinnon, M. (in press). Communicating biosecurity information to Australian-registered veterinarians, Australian Veterinary Journal. doi: 10.1111/avj.12843
- McKinnon, M., Black, B., Bobillier, S., Hood, K. & Parker, M. (2019). Stakeholder relations in Australian science journalism, Public Understanding of Science, 28:5, pp 554 - 571. doi: 10.1177/0963662519835745
- Phiddian, E. Hoepner, J. & McKinnon, M. (2019). Can interactive science exhibits be used to communicate population health science concepts? Critical Public Health. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/09581596.2019.1575948
- Mitchell, M. & McKinnon, M. (2019). 'Human' or 'objective' faces of science? Gender stereotypes and the representation of scientists in the media. Public Understanding of Science, 28:2, pp 177 - 190. doi: 10.1177/0963662518801257
- Dunn, M.E., & McKinnon, M. (2018) How can university sexual health promotion events reach those most at risk? A cross-sectional study, Sexual Health, 15:4, pp 304 - 311. doi: 10.1071/SH16228
- McKinnon, M., Howes, J., Leach, A. & Prokop, N. (2018). Perils and positives of science journalism in Australia, Public Understanding of Science, 27:5, pp 562 - 577. DOI: 10.1177/096362517701589
- McKinnon, M., Ahmad, M., Bongers, M., Chevalier, R., Telfer, I., & van Dorssen, C. (2018) Media coverage of lethal control: A case study of kangaroo culling in the Australian Capital Territory, Human Dimensions of Wildlife, 23:1, pp 90 - 99. doi: 10.1080/10871209.2018.1396511
- Rowbotham, S., McKinnon, M., Leach, J., Lamberts, R., & Hawe, P. (2017). Does citizen science have the capacity to transform population health science? Critical Public Health, 29:1, pp 118 - 128. doi:10.1080/09581596.2017.1395393
- McKinnon, M., & Orthia, L. (2017). Vaccination communication strategies: What have we learned, and lost, in 200 years? Journal of Science Communication, 16:3, A08
- McKinnon, M., & Bryant, C. (2017) Thirty years of a science communication course in Australia: Genesis and evolution of a degree, Science Communication, 39:2, 169 - 194. DOI: 10.1177/1075547017696166
- McKinnon, M., Semmens, D., Moon, B., Amarasekara, I. & Boillet, L. (2016) Science, Twitter and election campaigns: Tracking #auspol in the Australian federal elections, Journal of Science Communication, 15:06, A04
- McKinnon, M. & Perera, S. (2015) The Big Picture: Pre-service teachers' perceptions of 'expert' science teachers, Teaching Science, 61:4. pp 32 - 45.
- McKinnon, M. & Vos, J. (2015) Engagement as a threshold concept for science education and science communication, International Journal of Science Education, Part B: Communication and Public Engagement, 5:4. pp 297 - 318. DOI: 10.1080/21548455.2014.986770
- McKinnon, M., Orthia, L.A., Grant, W.J., Lamberts, R. (2014) From generic skills to real world assessment: Building an undergraduate science communication program, International Journal of Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education, 22:5, pp 1 - 13.
- McGillion, C., & McKinnon, M. (2014) Participatory theatre as a science communication tool in Timor Leste. Science Communication, 36:4. pp 502 - 510. DOI: 10.1177/1075547014533663
- McKinnon, M., Moussa-Inaty, J., & Barza, L. (2014) Science teaching self-efficacy of culturally foreign teachers: A baseline study in Abu Dhabi. International Journal of Educational Research, vol 66. pp 78 - 89. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijer.2014.03.001
- McKinnon, M. & Lamberts R. (2014) Influencing science teaching self-efficacy beliefs of primary school teachers: a longitudinal case study. International Journal of Science Education Part B: Communication and Public Engagement, 4:2, 172 - 194. DOI:10.1080/21548455.2013.793432
- McKinnon, M., Barza, L. & Moussa-Inaty, J. (2013) Public versus private education in primary science: The case of Abu Dhabi schools. International Journal of Educational Research, vol 62. pp 51 - 61. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijer.2013.13.06.07
- Thomas, J., Raynor, M. & McKinnon M. (2013) Academic integrity and oral examination: an Arabian Gulf perspective. Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 51:5, pp 533 - 543. DOI: 10.1080/14703297.2013.796724
Peer-reviewed encyclopaedia entries/book reviews/book chapters
- O’Connell, C. & McKinnon, M. (in press) Communication: The bridge between knowledge and implementation. In Catarina C. Ferreira & Cornelya F.C. Klütsch (Eds), Closing the Knowledge-Implementation Gap in Conservation Science - Evidence Transfer across Spatiotemporal Scales and Different Stakeholders, Wildlife Research Monographs. Springer Publications
- McKinnon, M. & Vos, J. (2016) Crossing a Threshold. In Maarten C.A. van der Sanden & Marc J. de Vries (Eds), Science and Technology Education and Communication: Seeking Synergy, (pp 27 - 46). Rotterdam: Sense Publishers
- McKinnon, M. (2014) Layperson's guide to pandemics, Review of Pandemics, by Prof Peter Doherty, Medical Journal of Australia, 200:5, 297. DOI: 10.5694/mja13.00232
- McKinnon, M. (2010) David Attenborough. In Susanna Hornig Priest (Ed), Encyclopedia of Science and Technology Communication, (pp 71 - 72). California: Sage Publications.
- McKinnon, M. (2010) Thomas Kuhn. In Susanna Hornig Priest (Ed), Encyclopedia of Science and Technology Communication, (pp 435 - 437). California: Sage Publications.
- McKinnon, M. (2010) Edward Teller. In Susanna Hornig Priest (Ed), Encyclopedia of Science and Technology Communication, (pp 884 - 885). California: Sage Publications.
Peer-reviewed conference proceedings
- Sarvary, M., Gifford, K., Grant, W.J., McKinnon, M., Medvecky, F., & Lewenstein, B. (2018, April). Turning undergraduates into science storytellers. What are the best practices? Conference Proceedings, panel discussion presented at Public Communication of Science and Technology (PCST) 2018 biannual meeting, Dunedin, New Zealand, 3 – 6 April 2018.
- McKinnon, M. Hawe, P., Hoepner, J., Grant, W.J., Beck, A. & O'Connell, C. (2018, April). Building Public Understanding of Population Health Science: Insights from a unique new collaboration. Roundtable discussion presented at Public Communication of Science and Technology (PCST), Biannual Conference, "Science, Stories and Society", Dunedin New Zealand, 3 - 6 April.
- McKinnon, M. & O'Connell, C. (2018, April). Science communication and gender: challenges, opportunities and stereotypes. Workshop presented at Public Communication of Science and Technology (PCST), Biannual Conference, "Science, Stories and Society", Dunedin New Zealand, 3 - 6 April.
- Durant, G. & McKinnon, M. (2016, September). Developing science communicators in Australia through a university-science centre-industry partnership: The Shell Questacon Science Circus. Paper presented at the Public Communication of Science and Technology Symposium - “Science communication as a profession: formal training, responsibilities and roles”, San Jose, Costa Rica, 28 - 30 September.
- Moussa-Inaty, J., Barza, L. & McKinnon, M. (2014, April). A Closer Look at Science Education in Abu Dhabi Primary Schools Through Teacher Self-Efficacy. Paper 184, Conference Proceedings, presented at American Educational Research Association (AERA) 2014 Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, United States of America, 3 – 7 April 2014.
- McKinnon, M. (2010, December). Motivator, Supporter, Trainer: Science Centres and their Role with Primary School Teachers. Conference Proceedings, Public Communication of Science and Technology (PCST), 11th Annual Conference, New Delhi, India.
Popular writing/opinion pieces
- McKinnon, M. Brian Cox is a world record holding 'rockstar scientist'. Here's why. The Conversation, 10 November 2017.
- Hoegh-Guldberg, O., Leach, L. & McKinnon, M. What the ABC's new Catalyst could mean for science on TV. The Conversation, 4 November 2016.
- McKinnon, M. How to keep more women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The Conversation, 13 July 2016.
- McKinnon, M. & Walker, L. Teachers are leaving the profession - here's how to make them stay. The Conversation, 11 January 2016.
- McKinnon, M. (2014, 10 May) Shells in a nutshell, Ask Fuzzy, Canberra Times.
- Barnard, K. & McKinnon, M. (2013, July-August) Partnering to build capacity in Indonesian science centers, Dimensions, vol 15 (4), pp 42 – 47. Washington: Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC).
- Grant, W.J. & McKinnon, M. Australians seem to be getting dumber - but does it matter? The Conversation, 17 July 2013.
Merryn is the lecturer for Science in the Media, Health Promotion and Protection, and convenes the Honours program.
She is also a regular presenter of some of CPAS's short courses.
