- Room 5th Floor, Rolle, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA
- +44 1752 585392
- alun.morgan@plymouth.ac.uk

Profiles
Dr Alun Morgan
Lecturer in Education
Plymouth Institute of Education (Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business)
Biography
Biography
Lecturer in Education
I lead courses on Environmental and Sustainability Education, Global Education and Outdoor Learning.
I have worked in a variety of contexts over thirty years including as a schoolteacher, teacher advisor, lecturer and researcher in a number of Higher Education Institutions.
I work across educational phases (Primary through to Higher Education); and sectors (formal-informal).
I promote intergenerational, lifelong and community-based learning.
I have a long-standing research interest in Place and Landscape as integrative concepts for learning; and have a particular interest in Ocean Literacy and Marine Citizen Science.
Qualifications
PhD MSc PgDip (SciSoc) PGCE BSc (Hons) CGeog FHEA
Professional membership
FRGS – Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (with Institute of British Geographers)
CGeog – Chartered Geographer
FHEA - Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
BERA (British Educational Research Association)
EMSEA (European Marine Science Educators Network)
GA (Geographical Association)
IOL (Institute of Outdoor Learning)
MBA (Marine Biological Association)
Roles on external bodies
Editorial Board Member: International Journal of Development Education and Global Learning (IJDEG)
Key publications
Teaching
Teaching
Teaching interests
Staff serving as external examiners
External Evaluator
The Big Jurassic Classroom Gets Creative with Earth Science (funded byPSTT);
INQUIRE – inquiry-based teacher training for a sustainable future EC FP7SiS-2010-2.2.1.1 (2011-2013)
External Examining
University of Worcester: BA (Hons) Primary and Outdoor Education (2014-present);
University of Wales Trinity St David's PGCE Secondary Geography (2013-2017)
University of Plymouth MSc Learning for Sustainability (2011-2014);
Goldsmith’s PGCE Geography (2005-2008);
Nottingham University BEd for Overseas Trained Teachers (2005-2006)
Course Evaluation and Accreditation – Member of Visiting Team of Experts commissioned by Evaluation Committee of Private Universities (ECPU) of the Republic of Cyprus in the Evaluation of proposed MSc in Education for the Environment and Sustainable Development, Frederick University (June 2009)
External Assessor for Forum for the Future’s ‘Masters in Leadership for Sustainable Development’ (course revalidation through Middlesex University) (March 2010)
Advisory Board
2019-present: Panel of Experts member for CREATIONs Project (EU H2020, 2016-2019);
2019-present: Panel of Experts member for Ocean Connections (H2020 Erasmus +, UoE £65k)
2015-17: UK Steering Groups of the EU funded Sea Change (H2020-EU.3.2. ID: 652644)
2015-17: UK Steering Group of Phenologit Erasmus+ (2015-1-UK01-KA201-013537)
2009-13: Expert Panel for ‘Global Partnerships as sites for mutual learning: teachers' professional development through study visits’ ESRC funded(Reference No. RES-061-25-0402)
Expert contributor to Digital Explorer KS2-4 educational resource development for ‘Submarine STEM’ (2016) and ‘Ocean Plastics’ (2018).
Research
Research
Research interests
Environmental Education; Education for Sustainability; Outdoor Learning; Geoscience Education; Place Based Education; Ocean Literacy
I am currently:
University Practice Setting Researcher in Residence (UPS RiR) with Devon Wildlife Trust
University Practice Setting Researcher in Residence (UPS RiR) with National Marine Aquarium
Institutional co-Lead for LOFE (Learning Outside of Formal Education) Research Excellence Cluster.
Convenor: Peninsula Research in Outdoor Learning (PRinOL) Network.
Research groups
Other research
2017-present: ‘NANOL - Nurturing Affinity to Nature through Outdoor Learning in Special Places’ (Institutional Lead) Erasmus+: 2017-1-ES01-KA201-038635)
2016-2019: PedRIO Project: ‘Service Learning for Sustainability: A feasibility study into the potential for a new learning opportunity at Plymouth’ (related to Place Based Education – Award: £8,486
2014-16: PedRIO Project ‘Implementing and Evaluating a Method of Co-operative Inquiry to Embed Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) across all programmes offered by Plymouth Institute of Education;
2014: ‘Young enquiring Minds’ (EU Comenius Regio Partnership Scheme LLP)
2013-2014: ‘RETAIN’ Collaboration, Innovation and Creativity – Means to RETAIN Teachers in Schools (EU Comenius Multilateral Project LLP)
2011-2014 ‘INSTEM: Innovation Networks in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics’ (2011-2015) Comenius Network: 527333-LLP-1-2012-1-DE-Comenius-CNW
2010-2012 ‘Science Education for Diversity’ (SED) EC FP7-SiS 244717
2006-09 ‘Leading Sustainable Schools’ Phase 1 & 2 - IOE, London/WWF-UK/Forum for the Future funded by National College for School Leadership (NCSL)
2005-2008 ‘Through Other Eyes’ Project: Project Development Team (Funding from DfID Development Awareness Fund)
2004-2005 ‘Leadership and education for sustainable development’ WWF/NCSL Pilot e-learning course
2002-2004 Research Officer: DUNES Project (Dialogical and ArgUmentative Negotiation Educational Software) EC FP5 IST-2001-34153
2002-2007 PhD Research (Thesis Title:- Minding the World: Integral Transformative Learning for Geographical and Environmental Wisdom)Research degrees awarded to supervised students
PhD
The Contribution of Indigenous Knowledge to an Environmental Education Programme: A Study in St Katherine Protectorate, South Sinai, Egypt
Yousria AbdEl Rahman, Egypt
Awarded - 2009
PhD
Influence of Fieldwork on the Cognitive and Affective Learning of Primary School Children aged 10-11 in Cyprus: A study in the Troodos Mountains of Cyprus
Anna Nicolaou, Cyprus
Awarded - 2010
Grants & contracts
2021-present: KE Pump Priming Funding (Faculty of Arts and Humanities) Award holder: ‘Experiencing Ocean Literacy for Educators and Communicators' - £3,800
2020-present: Knowledge Exchange HEIF Funding (Faculty of Arts and Humanities) Award holder: ‘Virtually On Board: Training Sail Trainers in Ocean Literacy Through Technology Enhanced Learning’ - £2,000
2020-2021: Knowledge Exchange HEIF Funding (Faculty of Arts and Humanities) Award holder: ‘Ocean City Learning Portal ’ - £2,500
2020-present: Researcher in Residence with National Marine Aquarium (Ocean Conservation Trust) – University Practice Setting (UPS)
2019-2021: Public Health Dorset ‘Emotional Health and Wellbeing through Physical Activity Whole School Approach’ evaluation - Team Member - £15,000
2019 Marine Institute HEIF Funding - Award holder: ‘Educator and Scientist Training: Using real science to enhance learning and engage young people with the marine environment’ - £2,470
2019 Faculty of Arts and Humanities HEIF 18/19 Strategic Investment Funding (SIF) - Award Holder ‘Collaborative Learning: Social Working at the Bridge’ - £3,000
2019 – R1 Funded Study Visit: ‘Plymouth – the Civic University as a Driver of Place-Based Social Learning for Sustainability: Cascading lessons from Vancouver’ - Award Holder - £1,500
2018-present: Researcher in Residence with Devon Wildlife Trust – University Practice Setting (UPS)
2017-2020: ‘NANOL - Nurturing Affinity to Nature through Outdoor Learning in Special Places’ Erasmus+ (2017-1-ES01-KA201-038635) - Institutional Lead and budget holder. UoP: €13,620 (Project total: €124,620)
2017: PIOE Travel Budget Conference Attendance - 9th World Environmental Education Congress - Environment and Culture: Weaving the Connections in Vancouver, BC, Canada from 9th-15th September - £1,000
2016-2019: PedRIO Project: ‘Service Learning for Sustainability: A feasibility study into the potential for a new learning opportunity at Plymouth’ – Award Holder : £8,486
2015: Visiting Academic - Technische Universität München (TUM), Germany (7.07.15-18.07.15) Erasmus+ 'Higher Education Mobility Agreement' - £1,000
2015: R1 Funded Conference Attendance - 8th World Environmental Education Congress - Planet & People in Gothenburg, Sweden from 27th June to 3rd July - £1,218.70
Publications
Publications
Key publications
Key publications are highlighted
JournalsPersonal
Personal
Reports & invited lectures
Keynote: Morgan, A. (2021) Ways of Measuring ‘Nature Connectedness’? presented at FoAHB Doctoral Conference 2021, University of Plymouth (3rd/4th June 2021)
Keynote: Morgan, A. (2020) Education for sustainability and place-based learning initiatives Keynote presented at Schools Meet Society: Insights for Updating Sustainability Education, SYKE (Finnish Environment Institute) International Online seminar on September 11, 2020, 10:00 -14:00 EEST (Finnish time)
Morgan, A. (2019) 'Plymouth – a Civic University as a Driver of Place-Based Social Learning for Sustainability' presented at Royal Roads University, Victoria, Vancouver Island, June 24th 2019
Morgan, A. (2014) The Campus as a Living Laboratory - Exploring place-based approaches to ESD, University of Cardiff, 12th February 2014 – Expert Rapporteur
Morgan, A. (2013) ‘What .. or Who … is Science Education For?’ Exeter Cafe Scientifique, 13th May 2013, Phoenix Arts Centre, Exeter
Morgan, A. (2010) ‘Geography Education and Education for Sustainability: An Excellent Climate for Change?’ presented at Scottish Association of Geography Teachers Annual Conference: Geography for Excellence, Hutchesons’ Grammar School, Glasgow, Saturday 23, October 2010
Morgan, A. (2009) ‘Place Based Learning for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship’ presented at Humanities Education Centre AGM, Humanities Education Centre, Tower Hamlets Professional Development Centre, London, November 10th, 2009
Morgan, A. (2009) ‘Learning for a sustainable future: perspectives from Geography’ presented at Enabling a connected curriculum: opportunities for global learning at key stage 3 (TIDE-Global Learning Secondary Conference), Millennium Point, Birmingham, United Kingdom, 5th March, 2009
Morgan, A. (2007) ‘Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship in the UK’ in The Contribution of Universities to Civil Society (1st International Academic Interchange Meeting between the Graduate School of Human Development and Environment (HDE), Kobe University and the Institute of Education, University of London)’ Kobe, December 11-14 2007s
Morgan, A. (2005) ‘What’s the Place of Fieldwork? – the UK Experience’ presented at Taiwan Geographical Society Workshop on the Teaching of Fieldwork, HSNU, Taipei, Taiwan, July 16, 2005
Morgan, A. (2005) ‘Geographical Education in the UK’ presented at NTNU Geographical Education Symposium, NTNU, Taipei, Taiwan, July 11, 2005
Conferences organised
Peninsula Research in Outdoor Learning (PRinOL) Inaugural Conference. Friday January 18th 2019. 10.00am – 4.00pm. University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, UK
Making it Happen: Outdoor Learning in the Primary School Curriculum – Research into Practice. Peninsula Research in Outdoor Learning (PRinOL) in partnership with the Association for the Study of Primary Education. Wednesday January 22nd 2020. 10:00-16:00 Plymouth Marjon University, Plymouth, Devon, UK
Other academic activities
International Journal of Science Education (IJSE)
Editorial Board Member; Reviewer
International Journal of Development Education and Global Learning (IJDEGL)
Editorial Board Member; Reviewer
Environmental Education Research (EER)
Reviewer
International Journal of Science Education (IJSE)
Regular 'peer reviewer'
University of Exeter
Honorary Lecturer
Carnegie Trust
Research Incentive Grant – reviewer