Dr Mariusz A. Sterna is an academic teacher / tutor at UniSA STEM. Mariusz’s doctoral degree (conferred Sep 2023) was completed at Flinders University, College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, under the supervision of Prof John Halsey, Dr Jane Jarvis and Dr Ann Luzeckyj.
Mariusz's general academic interest centres on aspects of above average human intelligence broadly understood as intellectual and academic giftedness and its educational, affective, social and institutional implications.
His most current academic / research interest focuses on educational systems’ learner inclusivity policy and practice approaches that impact academic success and retention, engagement and... Read more
About me
Dr Mariusz A. Sterna is an academic teacher / tutor at UniSA STEM. Mariusz’s doctoral degree (conferred Sep 2023) was completed at Flinders University, College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, under the supervision of Prof John Halsey, Dr Jane Jarvis and Dr Ann Luzeckyj.
Mariusz's general academic interest centres on aspects of above average human intelligence broadly understood as intellectual and academic giftedness and its educational, affective, social and institutional implications.
His most current academic / research interest focuses on educational systems’ learner inclusivity policy and practice approaches that impact academic success and retention, engagement and agency, belonging and socio-emotional well-being of individual students and groups characterised by various types of vulnerabilities.
His doctoral thesis titled: ‘Gifted students and their school libraries: educational environments, experiences and explorations’ informs on the up to now unexplored, unique relationship that intellectually gifted students have with their school libraries. The study employed a three phase MMR, Pragmatism as a research design and methodology framework and three separate investigative spatial theoretical frameworks. Theoretical works of Hall’s Proxemics (1966), Foucault’s Heterotopia (1967) and Soja’s Thirdspace (1996) were used to interrogate and discuss the research findings. By applying the aforementioned spatial theoretical tools, Mariusz has pioneered a unique way of re-defining school libraries as lived, dynamic spaces of privilege, marginalization, oppression and emancipation.
Mariusz is a leading authority on intellectual giftedness, merging theoretical and research-based knowledge with extensive practitioner background of teaching in schools, initiating and coordinating programs for gifted students, including working with gifted individuals and their families, institutions, mentors and staff to monitor students' well-being and academic performance outcomes. Mariusz was a founding board member of Australia's first independent school for gifted students, and later that school’s first Deputy Principal. Mariusz's professional qualifications, expertise and experience also extend to supporting students with learning difficulties and disabilities.
Based on his professional training, practice and experience, Mariusz's research and work integrates the fields of Science, Education and Information Studies. In addition to working with university undergraduate and post-graduate students, Mariusz has an extensive, over 20 year experience of designing and delivering Science, Mathematics, Biology and Research Project programs in secondary schools.
Mariusz is a qualified Academic and Teacher Librarian with employment experience of working at university libraries and managing secondary school libraries. As a trained librarian Mariusz understands the theoretical and pragmatic approaches involved in research, in addition to possessing expertise related to using Library Management Systems.
Throughout his career Mariusz has demonstrated a high level of ability in successfully managing individuals and teams in various professional settings, including occasionally dealing with highly complex and challenging team environments.
Mariusz presented his doctoral research findings at international conferences, professional network meetings and presentations to academic staff and HDR students. He is currently working on peer reviewed publications based on his doctoral research.
Mariusz sees himself as a pragmatic, adaptable, creative and effective researcher and educator with a manifestly international outlook on work and life, being multilingual, having both Australian and EU citizenships and numerous professional connections throughout the world.
Qualifications:
EdD (Gifted Education); MEd (Gifted Education); BSc (Biology); BEd (Secondary); BSpecEd; GradDipInfoSt
Teaching & student supervision