Keynote Speakers
Professor Dr. Ben Akpan (ICASE Dennis Chisman’s Oration- The major evening addressed at ICASE World Conferences, which is named in honor of Dennis Chisman (1928 – 2008).
Ben Akpan is a Past President of the International Council of Associations for Science Education (ICASE). He currently serves ICASE as Chair of World Conferences Standing Committee. A professor of science education, Ben’s recent appointments include that with the Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN) where he has gained extensive expertise in the operation of non-governmental professional organizations and in identifying areas of science teacher needs and is now the Association’s Executive Director. He networks for many other organizations. His areas of interest include chemistry education, environmental education, teacher education, and support for science teacher associations. Ben is a member of several professional organizations and a trustee of STAN. He has authored, co-authored, and edited some textbooks and articles in learned journals. These include Science Education: A Global Perspective published by Springer of which he is the editor; Science Education: An International Course Companion published by Sense Publishers which he co-edits with Professor Keith S Taber of the University of Cambridge, UK; and two ongoing book projects: Science Education in Theory and Practice being co-edited with Professor Teresa Kennedy of the University of Texas at Tyler to be published by Springer; and Science Education: Visions of the Future of which he is the editor. Ben is a member of the Editorial Boards of the Australian Journal of Science and Technology (AJST), Journal of Contemporary Educational Research (JCER), and Action Research and Innovation in Science Education (ARISE) Journal. He is a recipient of many commendations, prizes, and awards. Ben worked closely with Dennis Chisman for more than 15 years in ICASE and CASTME (Commonwealth Association of Science, Technology and Mathematics Educators). He is looking forward to speaking on Humanism and Science Education at this year’s Chisman Oration.
Professor Shahbaz KHAN, Director, and Representative, UNESCO Jakarta Office
Professor Shahbaz Khan is Director Regional Science Bureau for Asia and the Pacific and UNESCO Representative for Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Timor-Leste. He has a multidisciplinary academic background and professional experience in engineering, environmental law, economics, and international diplomacy. He is a Fellow, Chartered Engineer and Engineering Executive of Engineers Australia, Hon Fellow of Institution of Engineers, Malaysia, Fellow of the ASEAN Academy of Engineers, Hon Fellow of the Myanmar Engineering Society, Founding Fellow of the Academy of Engineering and Technology of the Developing World and Fellow of the Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand. Shahbaz is currently Adjunct Professor at the University of Canberra and Western Sydney University, Australia, Adjunct Professor at the Lincoln University, New Zealand, Distinguished Professor at the National University of Science and Technology, Pakistan and Distinguished Professor at the Capital Normal University, China.
Professor Khan holds a Bachelor of Science (Honors) in Civil Engineering (1990) from the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore (Pakistan); a Master of Science in Water Resources Technology and Management (1992) and a Doctorate in Civil Engineering (1995) from the University of Birmingham (United Kingdom); Graduate Diploma in Applied Geographic Information Science (2001) and a Grad Certificate in Information Technology (2003) from the Charles Stuart University in Wagga Wagga (Australia). In 2005, Shahbaz obtained a Master’s Degree in International Environmental Law from the Macquarie University (Australia) and in 2007 a Master’s Degree in Applied Environmental Economics from the Imperial College London (United Kingdom). In 2016, he was awarded the Honorary Doctorate in Environment & Development by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) for his outstanding work on water, environment and sustainable development. In December 2018, he was awarded an honorary doctorate of the University Birmingham in recognition of his outstanding contribution to research and education in the areas of water, environment and sustainable development.
Prof Khan has worked in Australia, France, Indonesia and Pakistan in various research, consultancy and policy positions. Before joining UNESCO, Shahbaz was Professor and Director at the Charles Sturt University, Research Director Irrigation Systems at CSIRO and Programme Leader, System Harmonisation for Regional Irrigation Business Partnerships at the Cooperative Research Centre for Irrigation Futures, Australia. His work has been widely recognised through receipt of many awards such as the Great Wall Friendship Award China 2017, FEIAP Engineer of the Year Award 2016, UNESCO Team Award for Managing Hydro Hazards 2009, Land and Water Australia’s Eureka Prize 2007, CSIRO Medal 2007, Biennial Medal of the Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand. He has widely published in the area of water, environment and sustainable development and received several outstanding publications awards.
Professor Dr. Ong Eng Tek, Ph.D. (Cambridge, UK), M.Ed (Houston, USA), B.Sc.Ed.(Hons) (USM), Deputy Dean (Research & Innovation), Faculty of Human Development, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Sultan Azlan Shah Campus, Proton City, 35900 Tanjung Malim, Perak. Malaysia
Born in Taiping, Perak, and followed through his primary and secondary education at St George Institution, Taiping, Professor Dr. Ong Eng Tek was bestowed with the Commonwealth Scholarship to pursue his Ph.D. in Science Education at the University of Cambridge, UK. Besides, he also obtained the M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Houston, Texas, the USA under the sponsorship of the Malaysian Government. He possesses the B. Sc. Ed. (Hons) in Mathematics and Chemistry Education from the Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia. He has also been fully sponsored by the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education to pursue his two-year postdoctoral study at the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, UK. Overall, he has more than 30 years of colorful working experience, ranging from a GCE A-Level college lecturer, secondary school teacher, a specialist and subsequently a senior specialist cum Head of Science Division at SEAMEO RECSAM, a Senior Assistant Director at the Inspectorate of Schools, Ministry of Education Malaysia, to a university senior lecturer and subsequently a Professor in Science Education at Sultan Idris Education University. He has published numerous journal articles reporting on a range of pertinent issues in education, particularly on the research and practice in the use of Inquiry-Based Science Education, Flipped Classroom, Cooperative Learning, Multiple Intelligences Theory, Concept Cartoon, and the integration of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education, and Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) in science across levels and disciplines. Currently, he is the Deputy Dean (Research & Innovation) at the Faculty of Human Development, Sultan Idris Education University.
Professor Tuula Keinonen, Head of the School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education at the University of Eastern Finland (UEF).
Professor Tuula Keinonen is Head of the School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education at the University of Eastern Finland (UEF). The School educates early education teachers, primary school teachers and secondary school teachers in craft and in-home economics as well as other secondary school teacher students in teachers’ pedagogical studies. Professor Keinonen has a multidisciplinary academic background and professional experience in the fields of physics and education. Keinonen is currently Professor in Education (especially research on general education) at the University of Eastern Finland. Professor Keinonen obtained a Master’s Degree in Physics as well as a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Joensuu (Finland). She is competent to teach in the Finnish primary, secondary and tertiary education levels. Her teaching experience is in physics in the Department of Physics at the University of Joensuu and in education in the Department of Applied Educational Science and later in the School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education. Professor Keinonen’s degrees include studies in physics, mathematics, chemistry, educational use of ICT, education, adult education, teacher’s pedagogical studies, multidisciplinary studies in school subjects, multidisciplinary environmental studies, and educational administration. She holds Doctorate both in Physics and in Education. Professor Keinonen has worked in Germany and France in research projects in the field of optics. She has widely published in the area of optics, science education, education for sustainability and health education. She has coordinated European Union projects Northern Environmental Education Development (NEED, funded by the Northern Periphery Programme) and Promoting Youth Scientific Career Awareness and its Attractiveness through Multi-stakeholder Co-operation (MultiCO, funded by Horizon2020 Programme). Through several national and international environmental and science education projects she has collaborated with primary and secondary schools. Currently, her research interests are how to motivate young people towards science studies and careers, and how to promote sustainable living. Prof. Keinonen’s presentation is titled as Pedagogical Approaches in Future Science Education – Experiences from the MultiCO Project.