Veronica McCauley, PhD, is Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) of Science Education, in the School of Education, University of Galway, Ireland. She holds the position of Joint Director of the Centre of Pedagogy and Public, University of Galway, which undertakes research and pedagogical practice in the area of engagement with a particular emphasis on sustainable community-led Public communication interventions.

Former Vice-Chair of the University of Galways Research Ethics Committee (2019-2023), Veronica was also recently appointed asthe Chair of Research for the School of Education. She publishes regularly in science education, science communication & Public engagement, technology education, STEM innovation (social and behavioural change at individual, educational and policy level), and related areas.

Within the School of Education, University of Galway; Veronica is the Director of Pedagogy for the Professional Master of Education, leads 6 modules on science teaching methodology, in addition to contributing to several other teacher and research education modules.

Over her years with the University of Galway, Veronica has had the privilege of educating over 450 science teachers,and over 3,500 student teachers from the fuller initial teacher education programmes; and has received nominations from her students on multiple occasions, for NUI Galways Presidential Excellence in Teaching & Learning Award, more recently in 2021 and in 2022.

Veronica researched and taught for several years at the University of Limerick (Ireland), Harvard University (Cambridge, USA) and currently resides at the University of Galway, Galway (Ireland). She is currently working on an SFI funded project and a HEA funded project. Veronica has had substantial funding success in science education and has been awarded 3 million euro as PICo-applicant, across 25 projects totalling 12 million euro from a wide range of funding bodies: NUIG, HEA; SFI, Enterprise Ireland, Galway2020, An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta amp; Gaelscolaíochta, SCoTENS, and the European Union (Erasmus+; H2020; PPPA-COGN-2020).

Recent research methods Publications include Design-Based Research, Dilemmatic Dialectical methods, Collective Intelligence, Systematic Review, Delphi Method and ParticipatoryResearch. 

Research interests: Science Education Methodologies and Assessment Techniques STEM Outreach and Innovation Mobile Technology in the Science Classroom Technologies and Teacher Education Social and Behavioural Change at Individual, Educational and PolicyLevel

Current PhD Supervision:

PhD Candidate:Porooshat Sabeti. Title:Developing a Facilitator Training Framework for Community-Driven STEAMM Projects:Empowering Families through Locally Relevant Initiatives. Supervisor: Dr. Veronica McCauley, Dr. Anna Gasperini.

PhD Candidate:Sitti Hadijah. Title:Exploring Pre-Service English Teachers Experiences in Co-Creating Instructional Technology Resources to Enhance Indonesian High School Students Self-Efficacy in Speaking English. Supervisor: Dr. Veronica McCauley

PhD Candidate: Orla Devine. Title: Thedevelopment of epistemic agency in Irish primary school teachers through Galtons lens. Supervisors: Dr. Veronica McCauley, Dr. Paul Flynn

PhD Candidate:Shannon Stubbs. Title:An investigation of the Science Capital Teaching Approach (SCTA) on childrens science capital, through scientist-led classroom interventions. Supervisors: Dr. Muriel Grenon, Dr. Veronica McCauley, Dr. Jen de Witt

PhD Candidate: Emer Davitt. Title:Embedding enterprise and entrepreneurship education within the Irish secondary school transition year curriculum.Supervisor: Dr. Paul Flynn, Dr. Veronica McCauley

PhD Candidate:Ronan McArt. Title:Embedding enterprise and entrepreneurship education within the Irish secondary school transition year curriculum. Supervisor: Dr. Veronica McCauley, Dr. Paul Flynn Doctoral Theses Supervised to Completion:2011-2021.

Alumni PhD's:

PhD Candidate: Michael McNamara. Title:Exploring the Influence of Standardised Assessment within the Primary School Context in Ireland: Key Actor Perspectives. Supervisor: Dr. Veronica McCauley 2017-2021.

PhD Candidate:Adriana Ferreira de Souza Cardinot. Title:Astronomy Education in Secondary School: an Evaluation of Conceptual and Affective Learning Experiences with Game-Based Learning. Supervisors:Dr. Jessamyn Fairfield, Dr. Veronica McCauley 2016-2020.

PhD Candidate:Sarah Carroll. Title:Science self-efficacy beliefs of upper primary pupils and the short-term effect of a scientist-facilitated informal education workshop. Supervisors:Dr. Muriel Grenon, Dr. Veronica McCauley 2013-2017.

PhD Candidate:Martin McHugh. Title:Unveiling knowledge gaps: An investigation into the design and implementation of video hooks in the science classroom. Supervisor: Dr. Veronica McCauley 2010-2015.

PhD Candidate:Diogo Martins Gomes. Title:Dialectical dividends: Fostering hybridity of new pedagogical practices and partnerships in science education and outreach. Supervisor:Dr. Veronica McCauley

Veronica is the Director of Pedagogy across the Professional Master of Education (PME) at School level, and leads 6 modules (teaching and assessment)on science teaching methodology (Physics, Chemistry and Biology).In addition to contributing to several other teacher education modules across the School of Education, NUI Galway.

She contributes to the Professional Practice Modules in terms of delivering workshops, and in terms of school placement, she is advisor to several students each year, across PME 1 and 2.In respect of the Master of Education course, she contributes to the General Research Methods module and supervises a number of students from each M.Ed. cohort.

She also supervises a number of doctoral students following the University of Galway's taught doctoral programme.

Module Lead/Contribution:

Professional Masters of Education (1PME1): ED 6105 Biology Methodology ED 6107 Chemistry Methodology ED 6120 Physics Methodology ED 6102 Professional PracticeSchool Placement

Professional Masters of Education (2PME1): ED 6205 Biology Methodology ED 6207 Chemistry Methodology ED 6220 Physics Methodology ED 6202 Professional PracticeSchool Placement 2 ED 6201 Practitioner ResearchMasters Supervision

Bachelor of Arts (Mathematics and Education)(GY109): ED 292Professional PracticeSchool Placement 2 ED 413Professional PracticeSchool Placement 4

Master of Education - Thesis supervision; - Contribute to General Research Methods module