RESEARCH
GENDER EQUITY
I work as a researcher for the Office of the Women in STEM Ambassador, an Australian Government initiative that addresses gender inequities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). My role involves academic research, evaluation and policy-related activities and advisory.
Research
I lead research in gender equity to investigate how to dismantle barriers to girls' and women's participation in STEM. Current research projects include:
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A study examining trends over two decades of awarded research grants in Australia by the Australian Research Council (ARC) and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) according to awardee gender
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A national Australian trial to study the effects of anonymising grant applications for in-demand scientific equipment such as telescopes, synchrotrons, and supercomputers
Evaluation
I also lead the Office’s national efforts to embed evaluation into equity programs. I produced an evaluation guide to support program evaluation on a national scale. I also created the STEM Equity Evaluation Portal — an online evaluation tool and repository that brings consistency and comparability to evaluation data. Underpinned by the latest research, this online tool is a user-friendly, how-to resource that helps STEM equity program leaders evaluate their programs. It is also a searchable repository of program evaluations to help us learn what works and doesn’t to improve equity.
Policy-related activities
I work with the Australian Government to produce research-informed reports and products to inform policy and efforts towards equity. For instance, I contributed to Australia’s Chief Scientist Rapid Research Information Forum 2020 on the impact of COVID-19 on women in the STEM workforce.
I also contribute evidence-based policy advice to federal government and the STEM sector on the best ways to improve gender equity in STEM. Advisory stakeholders include the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the National Health and Medical Research Council, the Australian Research Council, and the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, Women in STEM Initiatives.
EDUCATION & SCIENCE COMMUNICATION
My PhD research explored the science of science education — measuring if and how science communication and education programs change people’s scientific literacy and perspectives of science. My research led me to the TEDx stage to share my findings … that doing real science can transform how people think.
In my PhD, I also examined methods of evaluation. I explored the best ways to measure what and how people think and how to bring more consistency and comparability to evaluation. The insights from my PhD guide and inform my work in evaluating equity programs (described above).
I am also an associate editor (education and outreach) for the journal Astrobiology (Q1; Impact factor 4.335).
Publications & Conferences
PUBLICATIONS
Kingsley, I. (2020). Evaluating STEM Gender Equity Programs: A guide to effective program evaluation.
Office of the Women in STEM Ambassador. https://womeninstem.org.au/national-evaluation-guide
Johnston, E., et al (2020). Rapid Research Information Forum The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women in the STEM workforce. Australian Government Chief Scientist, Canberra.
Kingsley, I. and Kasumovic, M. (in press). Integrating mobile and digital technologies to create meaningful hands-on online learning experiences. In S. Griffith, K. Carruthers & R. Le Bard (Eds.), Education in the age of Corona: Pandemic pivots and productive portals. Common Ground Publishing.
Kingsley, I., Oliver C.A., and Slavich E. (2019). Hidden in the figures: what students are telling us about the effectiveness of astrobiology outreach. Astrobiology. Volume 19, Issue 9.
Oliver, C.A., Fergusson, J., Kingsley, I., Oliver, J., Mahony, P., and Browne, C. (2015). The Mars Lab: Connecting authentic science with the classroom. SCAN. Volume 34, Issue 1.
MANUSCRIPTS UNDER REVIEW
Kingsley, I., Slavich, E., Harvey-Smith, L., Johnston, E. and Williams, L. (submitted). Gender disparities in Australian research grants broadly reflect workforce participation. Nature Communications.
REFEREED CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
Kingsley, I., Oliver C.A., and Van Kranendonk M. (2017). A new tool to assess scientific literacy. Open Learning Conference 2017 (November). Sydney, Australia.
Kingsley, I., Oliver C.A., and Van Kranendonk M. (2017). Space science outreach – are we decreasing public understanding? International Astronautical Congress 2017 (September). Adelaide, Australia.
Kingsley, I. and Browne, C. (2014). Using the Mars Lab and Project Based Learning to deliver authentic science experiences. Australian Space Research Conference 2014 (September). Adelaide, Australia.
CONFERENCE PResentations
Kingsley, I. (2022). What works? Evaluating your equity program. Diversity Interventions 2022 SAGE: Systemic approaches that work (April). Virtual, Australia.
Kingsley, I., Scalice, D., and Cady, S. (2022). Publish your astrobiology education and outreach work in Astrobiology. AbSciCon 2022. Atlanta, US.
Kingsley, I., Oliver C.A., and Van Kranendonk M. (2018). Questioning assumptions: The evidence gap in science communication. Public Communication of Science and Technology Conference 2018 (April). Dunedin, New Zealand.
Kingsley, I., Oliver C.A., and Van Kranendonk M. (2017). A new tool to assess scientific literacy. Open Learning Conference 2017 (November). Sydney, Australia.
Kingsley, I., Oliver C.A., and Van Kranendonk M. (2017). A new tool to assess scientific literacy in an astrobiology course. Australian Space Research Conference 2017 (November). Sydney, Australia.
Kingsley, I., Oliver C.A., and Van Kranendonk M. (2017). A new instrument to assess scientific literacy for space outreach. International Astronautical Congress 2017 (September). Adelaide, Australia.
Kingsley, I., Oliver C.A., and Van Kranendonk M. (2017). Space science outreach – are we decreasing public understanding? International Astronautical Congress 2017 (September). Adelaide, Australia.
Kingsley, I., Oliver C.A., and Van Kranendonk M. (2017). Does the way we communicate astrobiology decrease public understanding of astrobiology? Astrobiology Science Conference 2017 (April). Arizona, USA
Kingsley, I., Oliver, C. and Van Kranendonk, M. (2017). Do science events change how people see science? Australian Science Communicators Conference 2017 (February). Adelaide, Australia
Kingsley, I., Fergusson, J. and Oliver, C. (2016). What it’s like to be a scientist: engaging students in authentic inquiry-based astrobiology experiences. Australasian Astrobiology Conference 2016 (July). Perth, Australia.
Kingsley, I. and Browne, C. (2014). Using the Mars Lab and Project Based Learning to deliver authentic science experiences. Australian Space Research Conference 2014 (September). Adelaide, Australia.
