Rena has been lecturing at the Faculty of Education for the last four years. Prior to that she enjoyed a career teaching at a wide range of levels in a variety of primary schools throughout New Zealand. In 2001 she was awarded a Royal Society of New Zealand Teacher Fellowship to work with educators and rangers in Arataki Regional Park (West Auckland) and with WaterCare.

Rena holds a BSc in Human Physiology and has recently completed a Masters of Education (1st class honours) looking at teachers’ understanding of the nature of science.

Her research interests include:

• science education
• teacher education
• the public understanding of the nature of science education.

Rena is a Senior Lecturer, lecturing in primary and early childhood teacher education programmes principally in science but also in mathematics.