Lena Danaia

Professorial Staff3792414

Professor Lena Danaia

BEd (Prim)(Hons, Class 1), CSU; PhD, CSU, FRSN

Professor
Bathurst
Building 1435, Room 112

Lena is a Professor of Education in the School of Education at the Bathurst campus and an internationally recognised scholar in applied STEM education. Her research expertise spans astronomy education, interdisciplinary innovation, and curriculum and program evaluation, with a strong emphasis on advancing evidence‑informed practice across early childhood, school, and tertiary sectors.

Her work has shaped international discourse in astronomy education, informed national STEM policy, and contributed to system‑level improvements in rural and early childhood education. Lena has led major research projects funded by state and national agencies and is widely regarded for her ability to translate rigorous research into impactful educational practice.

Lena has held multiple strategic leadership roles within the Faculty of Arts and Education at Charles Sturt University, where she has led faculty‑wide initiatives, contributed to institutional strategy, and mentored academic staff across all career stages. She is also an award‑winning supervisor of Honours, Masters, and PhD candidates.

Her disciplinary leadership is reflected in her role as Editor‑in‑Chief of The Australian Educational Researcher (Q1), her election as a Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales, and her service as an Australian Research Council Assessor. Internationally, she contributes to global STEM education through invited roles with the International Astronomical Union, including astroEDU, and through keynote presentations at major international conferences.

Across her academic career, Lena has been recognised for her contributions to research, teaching, and professional service, and is known for fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, driving innovation, and ensuring that high‑quality research leads to meaningful educational impact.

Lena’s research focuses on applied STEM education, with particular strengths in astronomy education, curriculum and program evaluation, and interdisciplinary innovation. Her work bridges research and practice, influencing global discussions in astronomy education, shaping national STEM policy, and supporting transformative change in early childhood and rural education.

She has led major research projects funded by the One Basin Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), the NSW Department of Education, the Northern Territory Government, and other national partners. A strong commitment to research translation underpins her work, ensuring that evidence directly informs teaching, policy, and system‑level decision‑making.

Lena’s interdisciplinary leadership includes guiding educational research within the One Basin CRC to advance digital literacy in agriculture, and evaluating the federally funded Little Scientists program, which informed program expansion and future investment. She is also a co‑author of the nationally significant Position Statement on Early Childhood STEM Education, and co‑edited the book STEM Education Across the Learning Continuum.

Her contributions are recognised internationally through keynote invitations at major conferences, including those affiliated with the International Astronomical Union, and through her membership in the USA Center for Astronomy and Physics Education Research. Her research has also been cited by the Prime Minister and Cabinet to inform national STEM education policy.

Lena has been recognised nationally for her outstanding contributions to learning and teaching, receiving an Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) Teaching Excellence Award as well as an ALTC Citation for Teaching Excellence. She brings practical classroom experience from her early career as a teacher in both Australia and the United Kingdom.

She is deeply committed to mentoring and capacity‑building, having supervised students from Honours through to PhD and supported academic staff across all career stages. Her inclusive, student‑centred approach to supervision has earned recognition, through a CSU Excellence Award for HDR Supervision.

Lena welcomes HDR candidates in the areas of science education, STEM education, astronomy education, and curriculum innovation.

Lena is one of the Editors‑in‑Chief of The Australian Educational Researcher (Q1), contributing to the advancement of high‑quality educational scholarship. She has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales and serves as an Australian Research Council Assessor, reflecting her standing in the national research community. Internationally, Lena was invited to join astroEDU, an initiative of the International Astronomical Union that promotes high‑quality, accessible science education for educators around the world.

Her professional engagement extends globally through the delivery of professional learning to educators across Australia and internationally. Lena’s research continues to influence classroom practice worldwide, with educators actively applying her work in diverse educational contexts.