STEM Education for a Sustainable Future: The Research Impact of Dr Eilish McLoughlin
DCU Water Institute - 10 Years of Discovery, Innovation and Impact
Research focus and connection to water and environmental challenges
Across Europe, building water literacy and STEM skills in young learners is critical for a sustainable future. At DCU, Dr Eilish McLoughlin, Associate Professor in the School of Physical Sciences, is leading innovative research that connects physics education with real-world environmental challenges. She is a distinguished Fellow of the Institute of Physics and a Chartered Physicist, with a focus on teacher education at both pre-service and in-service levels.
Eilish designs and implements forward-thinking curricula and pedagogical approaches to teaching physics to secondary school and university students. She leads large-scale projects that develop teachers’ knowledge and skills in STEM education using real-world contexts, including water and other sustainable development goals. Her work ensures that students not only understand scientific concepts but also engage with critical issues such as water quality, availability, and sustainability.
Real-World Impact
Eilish’s research empowers teachers to create innovative learning experiences that integrate real-world contexts into STEM education. These experiences support cognitive, affective, and behavioural learning outcomes, helping students connect scientific knowledge to societal and environmental challenges.
By equipping teachers with the skills and resources to integrate water-focused learning, her work enhances students’ understanding of water stewardship and sustainability from an early age. These educational innovations foster a new generation of learners who are informed, engaged, and prepared to address complex environmental challenges.
How the DCU Water Institute has supported her research
Membership in the DCU Water Institute has enabled Dr McLoughlin to collaborate with researchers across DCU in developing water-focused curriculum materials for pre-service science teacher education. Through an Erasmus+ project, these materials will be implemented across five European countries, expanding water literacy for both teachers and students in primary and secondary education.
The Institute’s multidisciplinary environment provides the collaborative space, expertise, and networks necessary to scale these educational innovations and connect STEM teaching with societal and environmental priorities.
Message for the 10th Anniversary
“Congratulations to Prof. Fiona Regan on her leadership, vision, and tireless dedication to addressing the grand challenges of water quality, availability, accessibility, and resilience through collaboration with researchers across scientific, societal, and policy disciplines. The DCU Water Institute has become a national leader of evidence-based dialogue and research that informs national policy on water stewardship.”
Read Dr McLoughlin’s full profile:
https://www.dcu.ie/researchsupport/research-profile?person_id=14069