Dr. Ian McKay

011 717 6665
ian.mckay@wits.ac.za

  Research Interests

* How should the Geosciences best be presented and taught?
* What makes a successful museum exhibition and outreach programme in a multicultural environment?
* How can development projects best be initiated and sustained?
* Insect Palaeontology and Evolution

Biography

Ian graduated with a PhD in Palaeontology from the University of the Witwatersrand in 1990. He worked as a researcher at the Onderstepoort Veterinary Research Institute for four years before training as a science and biology teacher, also completing and passing geography methodology. Since, 1996 he has been involved in a variety of aspects curriculum development in science and environmental education. He worked for the Wits RADMASTE Centre (Research and Development in Maths and Science and Technology Education), was a consultant for the Gauteng Institute of Education Development, and developed a participatory water quality test programme for rural communities on behalf of the Mvula Trust. In 2001 Ian joined the School of Geosciences to coordinate its outreach programmes which are centred on the Bleloch Museum and Kitching Gallery. Ian is particularly enthusiastic about testing innovative teaching techniques, promoting the teaching of Geosciences at school level, curating museum collections, designing interactive and entertaining and education museum programmes, as well as initiating and managing sustainable education initiatives.

Ian is a member of the Geological Society of South Africa, the Palaeontological Society of South Africa, the International Geosciences Education Organisation and is currently chair of the Geoscience Educators Association.