Academic interests
Key research themes are the development of open schooling networks and interdisciplinary teaching approaches focusing on complex sustainability challenges. Knain led the H2020 project Science Education for Action and Engagement towards Sustainability (SEAS), 2019-2022. This work continues in the FEDORAS Academy project, which aims to strengthen and further develop schools and teacher education to support students' capabilities to live and take action in a society confronting sustainability challenges and to become key actors for the transition to sustainable societies.
Knain's research also focuses on scientific literacy, with emphasis on multimodal texts, forms of representation. He led the project Representation and Participation in Science (REDE), funded by the Research Council (2016-2019), and Students as Researchers in Science (ElevForsk), funded by the Research Council (2007-2012).
Knain's research is oriented towards establishing co-creation processes in networks and collaboration with teachers and other stakeholders.
Courses taught
Background
- Vice Dean of Research, Faculty of Educational Sciences, UiO
- Professor of Science Education, The Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB), Dep. of Mathematical Sciences and Technology, Section for Learning and Teacher Education (SLL) 2007-2015. Associate professor 2004-2007
- Postdoc at University of Oslo, Dep. of Teacher Education and School Development, 2002-2005
- Dr. scient, 1999, University of Oslo, Dep. of Teacher Education and School Development (ILS). Thesis title: “Naturfagets tause stemme. Diskursanalyse av læreboker for Natur- og miljøfag i et allmenndannelsesperspektiv» (The silent voice of science education. Discourse analysis of science textbooks in the perspective of scientific literacy)
- Teacher Education Program (PPU) 1993, University of Oslo, Dep. of Teacher Education and School Development (ILS)
- Hovedfag (master) in astronomy 1991, University of Oslo, Institute for theoretical astrophysics
Awards
H. M. King's Gold Medal, 2001