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Dr. Carolina Imlach Castano

Lecturer, Secondary Education

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Campus

Berwick Campus

Biography

Dr Carolina Imlach Castano is a passionate and experienced academic, researcher, school leader and international consultant in the fields of social justice, peace education, science education and environmental education. She is a recipient of the prestigious International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (IPRS) and the Endeavour International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (EIPRS) from the Australian Government. She has a strong background in sociocultural theories, critical theories and feminist theories that explore the intersections between power, structural violence and marginalisation.  

Her experience expands beyond academic settings to fieldwork with communities and industry, including governments and NGOs in Australia, New Zealand and South America.  

Before joining Federation University, Carolina worked in different universities and schools in Melbourne, New Zealand and Colombia.  

Carolina’s current research interests include culturally and linguistically diverse women in STEM, transitioning societies towards social and ecological thriving, parenting through intentional digital disconnection and conscientious objectors of AI and social media use. 

Besides teaching and researching, Carolina loves spending time with her family, reading books, walking, gardening and cooking traditional family recipes. 

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More about Carolina

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science with a major in Molecular Biology, Los Andes University, Colombia 
  • Master of Teaching, Los Andes University, Colombia 
  • PhD, Deakin University 

Areas of interest

  • Culturally and linguistically diverse women in STEM 
  • Transitioning societies towards social and ecological thriving 
  • Intersection between critical peace education and science education 
  • Parenting through intentional digital disconnection 
  • Conscientious objectors of AI and social media use 

Grants

  • Imlach Castano, C. 2017. Science education for the construction of peace. Universidad Nacional de Colombia. ($22,000) 
  • Imlach Castano, C., Martin, J. Carter, L. (2015–2016). Ethics of Care in science education. Catholic Education Melbourne (CEOM) and Australian Catholic University. ($20,000) 
  • Imlach Castano, C. 2014–15. Project EIPAS: Espacios para la Interacción Positiva entre Animales y Sociedad (Positive Spaces for the Interaction of Animals and Society). Franz Weber Foundation and Coppa Organization, Argentina. ($27,000) 
  • Imlach Castano, C. 2013. Creating connections: understanding children's diverse perspectives on environmental issues. ACU-Early Career Researcher Grant, Australia – Ecuador. ($15,000) 
  • Imlach Castano, C. 2012–13. Transformative Science: Exploring science education for social justice, cultural diversity, ecological sustainability, and the construction of peace and compassion. ACU-Research Support Team grant. ($5,000) 
  • Imlach Castano, C. 2010–11. Curriculum renovation national program: SiProfe. Ministry of Education, Ecuador, UNICEF and Organización de Estados Iberoamericanos para el Desarrollo (OEI), Ecuador. ($21,000) 
  • Imlach Castano, C. 2003. Biotechnology in the Classroom Project. International Centre for Tropical Agriculture, Colombia. ($7,000) 

Awards

  • 2012–2013: Teaching and learning recipient – Transformative learning group, Australian Catholic University 
  • 2012: Best published paper award, Cultural Studies of Science Education Journal (CSSE)
  • 2008–2011: Postgraduate Research Scholarship Award (DUPRS), Deakin University and the Australian Government
  • 2008–2011: The Endeavour International Postgraduate Research Scholarship Award (IPRS), Deakin University and the Australian Government

  • Secondary science education 
  • Secondary mathematics education 

Professional association memberships

  • Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE) 
  • Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (ASCILITE) 
  • Cultural Studies of Science Education (CSSE) Editorial board member 

Social Justice, Inclusion and Diversity in Education (SJIDE)

Carolina is part of the Social Justice, Inclusion and Diversity in Education (SJIDE) research group, which focuses on equity, diversity, inclusion, opportunity, regionality, and wellbeing in formal and non-formal educational settings.

Women in Engineering, Education, Science and Technology (WE2ST)

Carolina is part of the Women in Engineering, Education, Science and Technology (WE2ST), which aims to strengthen women's participation, visibility and impact in STEM through interdisciplinary research, collaboration, and mentorship.

  • Publications

Decolonizing English as an Additional Language Curriculum: Addressing Cultural Violence in a Colombian School