Profile

Jennifer Campbell

• Chief Investigator
• Griffith University

Dr Jennifer Leigh Campbell is an environmental engineer, scientist, and researcher, deeply committed to enriching STEM education research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives. Her innovative approaches to teaching and research aim to bring playful curiosity back into STEM to connect people and communities with eachother and with Country.

As the recipient of the 2022 Queensland Women in STEM Breaking Barriers Award and a 2023 Australian Award for University Teaching citation, Jennifer’s exceptional contributions to student learning and educational excellence are recognised at state and national levels. She excels in integrating project-based learning and undergraduate research into higher education, enhancing student engagement and learning outcomes. As a co-founder of the Kungullanji Indigenous Research Program, Jennifer worked alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and staff to facilitate over 100 undergraduate research projects.

With a research focus on ecological and environmental engineering, resource management, and blue-green infrastructure, Jennifer’s research focuses on connecting people to Country and the environment through community-led or co-designed infrastructure. Her collaborative efforts with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities highlight her expertise in employing a blend of qualitative, quantitative, and Indigenous research methodologies.

Jennifer’s creativity extends beyond traditional research and teaching methods. As a trained LEGO® Serious Play® facilitator, she designs activities that are both meaningful and engaging, proving that learning and research can be fun and impactful. Driven by a desire to inspire students, empower researchers, and foster a more equitable and diverse STEM community, Jennifer is looking to collaborate with students and colleagues on projects that challenge and resist conventional approaches to centre nature-based solutions and Indigenous knowledges and perspectives.