Antti Laherto

My research deals with learning, teaching and communication of contemporary science and technology in

• secondary and primary schools
• pre-service and in-service teacher education
• out-of-school settings (such as universities' outreach labs) and informal learning environments (such as exhibitions in museums and science centres).

In my current research I am interested in aspects of future in science and technology education. I work with the concepts of authenticity and relevance of science education, and Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) in school contexts. I am interested in scientific and technological literacy and public engagement in several societally relevant fields of science and innovation, such as nanotechnology and climate change. I currently supervise three PhD students. I've been involved in the following EU-funded projects:

• I SEE: Inclusive STEM Education to Enhance the capacity  to aspire and imagine future careers (EU Erasmus+, 9/2016 - 8/2019), Principal Investigator
• IRRESISTIBLE: Engaging the Young with Responsible Research and Innovation (EU FP7, 11/2013 – 10/2016), Principal Investigator
• HOPE: Horizons in Physics Education (EU Life Long Learning Programme, 10/2013 – 9/2016)
• MaterialsScience: University-school partnerships for the design and implementation of research-based ICT-enhanced modules on material properties (EU FP6, 1/2007-12/2009)

Before doing my PhD at the University of Helsinki, I worked several years in Heureka, the Finnish science centre. After the PhD I've worked as a visiting researcher at the IPN in Kiel, Germany (autumn 2012) and at the University of Bologna, Italy (spring 2016) supported by scholarships from the IPN and the Finnish Cultural Foundation.

I've worked as an editorial board member and/or reviewer in 10+ scientific journals and publications, and given several invited talks in international conferences and seminars. Among my positions of trust in the academic community, I've served as the Secretary and member of the board of the Finnish Mathematics and Science Education Research Association (FMSERA) in 2011-2017.

I am / have been teaching the following courses at the University of Helsinki:

Department of Education:

• University lecturer in Didactics of Physics and Computer Science (deputy): autumn 2017 - present; autumn term 2013
• Physics Didactics for pre-service secondary school (subject) teachers (3 different courses) 
• Physics Didactics for pre-service primary school (class) teachers (3 different courses)
• Subject Teacher Education Programme in English (STEP)
• Conversion training for subject teachers to class teachers (HY+)

Department of Physics:

• Scientific literacy and learning environments (5 cr)
• Orientation to physics education (2 cr)
• experimental modern physics for in-service teachers and upper secondary school students in the F2k-laboratory 
• History and philosophy of physics (8 cr) – occasional substitutions in 2007-2015.

Beyond teaching at the university, during 1999-2006 I gained teaching experience in secondary schools and in the Science centre Heureka. 

I also work with science communication and public engagement in the context of the LUMA centre. These efforts aim to support physics and technology teaching, and to enhance the understanding of (and interest in) science and technology in Finland. We opened the F2k-laboratory in December 2010. Besides running that, I have organised science clubs, laboratory visits and summer camps for children and students, workshops and in-service training courses for teachers, and outreach activities for general public. I co-operate in various projects related to both formal and informal science education and public engagement.