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)
Senior Lecturer
Associate Director Education
Honours Convenor
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.
Merryn has worked and conducted qualitative and quantitative research nationally and internationally, in both non-academic and academic roles. She regularly contributes to ABC Radio on ABC Sydney's Nightlife and Radio National's Research Filter, talking about interesting science from around the world. Merryn designs and delivers science communication workshops, as well as workshops specifically for women in STEM.
Merryn's research contributes to a better understanding of the relationship between science, media and publics. She conducts research which explores why publics react and respond to scientific issues the way they do in a variety of different disciplines including public health and conservation science. She is actively building a research program exploring the influence of equity, inclusion and intersectionality in STEM, especially STEM communication.
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;
- The impact of science communication training and activities with a particular focus on gender;
- Diversity and inclusion in STEM disciplines
Projects
- Principal investigator, Influences on the science teaching self-efficacy beliefs of Australian primary school teachers
- Researcher, Gender equity in STEM
- Supervisor, 3D Images and Models in Chemistry
- Supervisor, An investigation into the response to the potential emergence of new diseases in Australia
- Supervisor, Can hype be a force for good?
- Supervisor, Communicating biosecurity information to Australian-registered veterinary practitioners
- Supervisor, Impacts of citizen science on volunteers
- Supervisor, Improving the implementation of participatory research approaches for ocean sustainability: the role and importance of gender, equity and inclusion
- Supervisor, Informal science activities for the social development of people with intellectual disabilities
- 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, Post-operative communication needs of hysterectomy patients in Australia
- 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, Sex on campus: Investigating sexual health promotion in universities
- 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
- Kapoor, A & McKinnon, M 2021, 'The elephant in the room: tackling taboos in women’s healthcare', Journal of Science Communication, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 1-10.
- Thomas , C, MacMillan, C, McKinnon, M et al. 2021, 'Seeing and Overcoming the Complexities of Intersectionality', Challenges, vol. 12, no. 5, p. 13.
- McKinnon, M & O'Connell, C 2021, 'Perceptions of barriers to career progression for academic women in stem', Societies, vol. 11, no. 2.
- Orthia LA, McKinnon M, Viana JN & Walker GJ 2021, 'Reorienting science communication towards communities', Journal of Science Communication, 20(3): A12. DOI: 10.22323/2.20030212
- McKinnon, M & O'Connell, C 2020, 'Perceptions of stereotypes applied to women who publicly communicate their STEM work', Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, vol. 7, no. 1.
- Navarro, K & McKinnon, M 2020, 'Challenges of communicating science: Perspectives from the Philippines', Journal of Science Communication, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. -.
- McKinnon, M 2020, 'The absence of evidence of the effectiveness of Australian gender equity in STEM initiatives', Australian Journal of Social Issues.
- O'Connell, C, McKinnon, M & LaBouff, J 2020, 'One size does not fit all: gender implications for the design of outcomes, evaluation and assessment of science communication programs', Journal of Science Communication, vol. 19, no. 1.
- Rowbotham, S, McKinnon, M, Marks, L et al 2019, 'Research on media framing of public policies to prevent chronic disease: A narrative synthesis', Social Science and Medicine, vol. 237, pp. 1-10.
- McDonald, I & McKinnon, M 2019, 'Communicating biosecurity information to Australian-registered veterinarians', Australian Veterinary Journal, vol. 97, no. 10, pp. 394-397.
- McKinnon, M, Black, B, Bobillier, S et al. 2019, 'Stakeholder relations in Australian science journalism', Public Understanding of Science, vol. 28, no. 5, pp. 554-571.
- Phiddian, E, Hoepner, J & McKinnon, M 2020, 'Can interactive science exhibits be used to communicate population health science concepts?', Critical Public Health, vol. 30, no. 3, pp. 257-269.
- 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, vol. 28, no. 2, pp. 177-190.
- McKinnon, M, Howes, J, Leach, A et al 2018, 'Perils and positives of science journalism in Australia', Public Understanding of Science, vol. 27, no. 5, pp. 562-577.
- Dunn, M & McKinnon, M 2018, 'How can university sexual health promotion events reach those most at risk? A cross-sectional study', Sexual Health, vol. 15, no. 4, pp. 304-311.
- McKinnon, M, Ahmad, M, Bongers, M et al 2018, 'Media coverage of lethal control: A case study of kangaroo culling in the Australian Capital Territory', Human Dimensions of Wildlife, vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 90-99.
- Rowbotham, S, McKinnon, M, Leach, J & Lamberts, R 2017, 'Does citizen science have the capacity to transform population health science? [IN PRESS]', Critical Public Health, vol. Online, pp. 1-12.
- McKinnon, M & Bryant, C 2017, 'Thirty Years of a Science Communication Course in Australia: Genesis and Evolution of a Degree', Science Communication, vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 169-194pp.
- McKinnon, M & Orthia, LA 2017, 'Vaccination communication strategies: What have we learned, and lost, in 200 years?', Journal of Science Communication, vol. 16, no. 3, A08.
- McKinnon, M & Vos, J 2016, 'Crossing a Threshold', in M C A van der Sanden and M J de Vries (ed.), Science and Technology Education and Communication: Seeking Synergy, Sense Publishers, Rotterdam, pp. 27-45pp.
- McKinnon, M, Semmens, D, Moon, B et al 2016, 'Science, Twitter and election campaigns: Tracking #auspol in the Australian federal elections', Journal of Science Communication, vol. 15, no. 6, pp. 22pp.
- McKinnon, M & Perera, P 2015, 'The Big Picture: Pre-service teachers' perceptions of 'expert' science teachers', Teaching Science, vol. 61, no. 4, pp. 32-45pp.
- 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.
- McGillion, C & McKinnon, M 2014, 'Participatory Theater as a Science Communication Tool in Timor Leste', Science Communication, vol. 36, no. 4, pp. 502-510.
- McKinnon, M 2014, 'Layperson's guide to pandemics', Medical Journal of Australia, vol. 200, no. 5, p. 297.
- McKinnon, M, Orthia, LA, Grant, WJ & Lamberts, R 2014, 'Real-world assessment as an integral component of an undergraduate science communication program', International Journal of Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education, vol. 22, no. 5, pp. 1-13.
- 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.
- 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, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 172 - 194.
- 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.
- Thomas, J, Raynor, M & McKinnon, M 2014, 'Academic integrity and oral examination: an Arabian Gulf perspective', Innovations in Education and Teaching International, vol. 51, no. 5, pp. 533-543.
Merryn is the lecturer for Science in the Media (SCOM2016/6016), Health Promotion and Protection (POPH6115), and Health Promotion Principles and Practice (SCOM3033). A core focus of her teaching is providing students with opportunity to practice the skills 'in the real world' through working with partners both within and external to the ANU.
She convenes the Honours program and is also a regular presenter of some of CPAS's short courses.
