Prof Lisa Emerson staff profile picture

Contact details +6469517547

Prof Lisa Emerson MA, PhD

Professor

Institute of Education

My scholarly work falls into two categories.

1. Science writing. My doctoral thesis focused on the integration of writing into the science curriculum in higher education, and this has led to a career teaching science writing (to undergraduate and graduate students) and researching scientists as writers. I was awarded a Fulbright Senior Scholarship in 2012 to develop scholarly work on mathematicians and senior scientists as writers. I am currently investigating the beliefs, attitudes, experiences and development of scientists and mathematicians as writers.

2. Tertiary teaching. As an award winning teacher (including the Prime Minister's Supreme Teaching Award 2008), I focus the second strand of my research on the effective teaching of writing, and especially the transition of students in low decile schools into academic literacy. My teaching related research also investigates attitudes to plagiarism, New Zealand writing programmes, information literacy, learning advising, writing centres, peer tutoring, and the attitudes of tertiary teachers. I was awarded a TLRI grant in 2012 to integrate academic literacy into the senior curriculum of 5 low decile schools in the Palmerston North-Whanganui regions. I am currently leading another three-year TLRI project which researches information literacy and the library in senior secondary and tertiary teaching.

My primary interests are science writing, scientists as writers, academic writing, information literacy, plagiarism, and transitions to academic literacy. As well as this, I have interests in New Zealand writing programmes, and learning advising in New Zealand. I have supervised PhD theses on Writing Centres in Malaysia, Integrating Information literacy into the tertiary curriculum, Supporting mature students into academic literacy, and Learning Advising within disciplines.

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Professional

Contact details

  • Ph: 84547
    Location: Room 3.16, SGP Building
    Campus: Turitea

Qualifications

  • Master of Arts - Massey University (1988)
  • Doctor of Philosophy - Massey University (2000)

Research Expertise

Research Interests

Science writing

scientists as writers

mathematics and writing

plagiarism

writing centre theory and practice

academic literacy

transitions to academic literacy

information literacy

mature students in higher education

learning advising in New Zealand

New Zealand writing programmes

metaphors in tertiary teaching

integrating writing into the curriculum

writing in the disciplines

writing across the curriculum

Research Opportunities

  • Transitions to academic literacy  (1/1/2013) We are working on a project which aims to support students from low decile schools transition into academic literacy. This project is funded by the TLRI.

Thematics

21st Century Citizenship

Area of Expertise

Field of research codes
Communication and Media Studies (200100): Communication Studies (200101):
Curriculum and Pedagogy (130200): Curriculum and Pedagogy Theory and Development (130202): Education (130000): Education Systems (130100): English and Literacy Curriculum and Pedagogy (excl. LOTE, ESL and TESOL) (130204): Higher Education (130103):
Languages, Communication And Culture (200000): Organisational, Interpersonal and Intercultural Communication (200105):
Other Education (139900): Science, Technology and Engineering Curriculum and Pedagogy (130212): Technical, Further and Workplace Education (130108)

Keywords

Academic writing

Science writing

Scientists as writers

Writing in mathematics

Writing Centers

Academic writing

Plagiarism

Transitions to academic literacy

information literacy

learning advising in New Zealand

New Zealand writing programmes

metaphors in tertiary teaching

Research Projects

Completed Projects

Project Title: Transforming information literacy space(s) to support student learning

This project aims to improve students' information literacy (IL) competencies and learning within programmes/disciplines across the senior secondary and tertiary sectors. In partnership with seven secondary schools and four tertiary institutions, we are using participatory action research/mixed methods to develop new ways for teachers and librarians, as embodiments of disciplinary knowledge and IL expertise, to collaboratively plan and implement instructional approaches that prioritise critical use of IL skills to learn disciplinary content knowledge. Outputs include a set of IL progressions (NZQF Levels 1-3 in schools and 4-7 in tertiary institutions) and teaching resources for use in schools and tertiary institutions. We are also conducting a national survey of information literacy in secondary and tertiary education, which will be of use to policy makers, schools and tertiary institutions across the country.
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Date Range: 2016 - 2020

Funding Body: New Zealand Council For Educational Research

Project Team:

Project Title: Developing the science writer

This project investigates scientist as writers. Most scientists spend most of their day writing and communicating with others, and scientific knowledge is developed through writing. But almost no research has been conducted which investigates scientists' beliefs, attitudes, experiences and development as writers. This project addresses this gap in the literature. I have conducted interviews with 135 scientists in four countries, from 16 research institutions. These scientists come from a range of scientific disciplines, and are at different stages of their careers - senior scientists, emerging scientists, and graduate science students. From these interviews, I am creating literacy narratives, which describe scientists' different experiences and views about writing. The book that emerges from this research provides valuable insights for scientists who wish to develop a deeper understanding of their own writing, and for writing teachers who need to understand the lived experiences of scientists as writers.
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Date Range: 2009 - 2012

Funding Body: Massey University

Project Team:

Teaching and Supervision

Teaching Statement

My teaching areas are very varied. I teach science writing and science communication, academic writing, and writing centre theory and practice. I have taught academic writing in all disciplines (business, education, social sciences, science and technology) as well as creative writing and life writing.

Contact Supervisor

Completed Doctoral Supervision

Main Supervisor of:

  • 2023 - Ami Moller - Doctor of Philosophy
    University student and staff perceptions of third-party writing assistance and plagiarism: A mixed methods study
  • 2018 - Martin McMorrow - Doctor of Philosophy
    Developing writing pedagogy and tertiary learning advice in a disciplinary programme at a New Zealand university
  • 2017 - Prudence Fry - Doctor of Philosophy
    Acquiring a new discourse: Using action research to explore a study group for mature-aged open entry students in their first semesters at university
  • 2014 - Angela Feekery - Doctor of Philosophy
    Conversation and Change: Integrating Information Literacy to Support Learning in the New Zealand Tertiary Context
  • 2007 - Bee Tan - Doctor of Philosophy
    On-line Writing Laboratories and their application to ASEAN countries

Media and Links

Other Links