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Erik Knain

Image of Erik Knain
Phone +47 22 85 82 52
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Visiting address Moltke Moes vei 35 Niels Henrik Abels hus 0851 Oslo
Postal address Postboks 1099 Blindern 0317 Oslo

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

Tags: Sustainability education, Inquiry-based learning, socio-scientific issues, scientific literacy

Publications

  • Leifsen, Silje; Knain, Erik & Aanesland, Torunn Strømme (2026). Creating Space for Boundary-Crossing Conversations in Science Teacher Education: A Deep Dive into Conversations Between School-Based and University-Based Teacher Educators. Journal of Science Teacher Education. ISSN 1046-560X. doi: 10.1080/1046560x.2026.2662828. Full text in Research Archive
  • Knain, Erik; Tasquier, Giulia; Jornet, Alfredo; Røkenes, Hanna Pauliina & Mueller, Martin Lee (2025). School boundaries coming alive: Transforming education towards sustainability through open schooling initiatives. Acta Psychologica. ISSN 0001-6918. 258. doi: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105192. Full text in Research Archive
  • Tasquier, Giulia; Knain, Erik; Røkenes, Hanna Pauliina & Jornet, Alfredo (2025). Exploring Narratives of Change for Imagining the Future and Fostering Agency Toward Sustainability, Connecting Science Education with Cultural Heritage. Springer. ISSN 9783031909436. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-90944-3_22. Full text in Research Archive
  • Røkenes, Hanna Pauliina; Jornet, Alfredo & Knain, Erik (2025). Young people envisioning desired futures through narratives of change in science education. Futures: The journal of policy, planning and futures studies. ISSN 0016-3287. 169. doi: 10.1016/j.futures.2025.103591. Full text in Research Archive
  • Jensen, Fredrik; Kjærnsli, Marit; Knain, Erik; Løvgren, Maria & Pettersen, Andreas (2024). Sammenhengen mellom utforskende undervisning i naturfag og elevers prestasjoner og interesse for og trivsel med naturvitenskap. Norske resultater fra PISA 2015. Nordic Studies in Science Education (NorDiNa). ISSN 1504-4556. 20(1), p. 103–118. doi: 10.5617/nordina.9335. Full text in Research Archive
  • Ingulfsen, Line; Furberg, Anniken & Knain, Erik (2023). The role of teacher support in students’ engagement with representational construction. Cultural Studies of Science Education. ISSN 1871-1502. 18(4), p. 1311–1341. doi: 10.1007/s11422-023-10193-0. Full text in Research Archive
  • Kristensen, Heidi & Knain, Erik (2023). Which side are you on? The role of attitudes in reasoning practices in student-group interactions regarding a socio-scientific issue related to climate change. International Journal of Science Education. ISSN 0950-0693. doi: 10.1080/09500693.2023.2253367. Full text in Research Archive
  • Sjøberg, Mari Heum; Furberg, Anniken & Knain, Erik (2022). Undergraduate biology students' model-based reasoning in the laboratory: Exploring the role of drawings, talk, and gestures. Science Education. ISSN 0036-8326. n/a(n/a). doi: 10.1002/sce.21765. Full text in Research Archive
  • Tasquier, Giulia; Knain, Erik & Jornet, Alfredo (2022). Scientific Literacies for Change Making: Equipping the Young to Tackle Current Societal Challenges. Frontiers in Education. 7, p. 1–20. doi: 10.3389/feduc.2022.689329. Full text in Research Archive
  • Marti, Kristin Torjesen & Knain, Erik (2022). Bærekraftig utvikling i naturfaglige og samfunnsfaglige skriveoppgaver fra grunnskolen. Acta Didactica Norden (ADNO). 16(2). doi: 10.5617/adno.8979. Full text in Research Archive
  • Fredlund, Tobias; Remmen, Kari Beate & Knain, Erik (2021). The epistemological commitments of modes: opportunities and challenges for science learning. Visual Communication. ISSN 1470-3572. doi: 10.1177/14703572211038991. Full text in Research Archive
  • Ødegaard, Marianne; Knain, Erik; Kvamme, Ole Andreas & Sæther, Elin (2021). Making sense of frustration and complexity when introducing sustainability in teacher education. Acta Didactica Norden (ADNO). 15(3), p. 1–23. doi: 10.5617/ADNO.8184. Full text in Research Archive
  • Nilsen, Trude; Frøyland, Merethe; Henriksen, Ellen Karoline; Kolstø, Stein Dankert; Jorde, Doris & Korsager, Majken [Show all 14 contributors for this article] (2021). Et kritisk og konstruktivt blikk på naturfaget i norsk skole. In Nilsen, Trude & Kaarstein, Hege (Ed.), Med blikket mot naturfag. Nye analyser av TIMSS-data og trender 2015-2021. Universitetsforlaget. ISSN 9788215045092. p. 207–260. doi: 10.18261/9788215045108-2021-09. Full text in Research Archive
  • Knain, Erik; Fredlund, Tobias & Furberg, Anniken Larsen (2021). Exploring Student Reasoning and Representation Construction in School Science Through the Lenses of Social Semiotics and Interaction Analysis. Research in Science Education. ISSN 0157-244X. 51(1), p. 93–111. doi: 10.1007/s11165-020-09975-1. Full text in Research Archive
  • Knain, Erik & Ødegaard, Marianne (2019). Naturfagets rolle i bærekraftdidaktikk. In Kvamme, Ole Andreas & Sæther, Elin (Ed.), Bærekraftdidaktikk. Fagbokforlaget. ISSN 9788245024272. p. 135–151. Full text in Research Archive
  • Kolstø, Stein Dankert & Knain, Erik (2019). Hvordan lykkes med utforskende arbeidsmåter. In Knain, Erik & Kolstø, Stein Dankert (Ed.), Elever som forskere i naturfag. Universitetsforlaget. ISSN 9788215031446. Full text in Research Archive
  • Knain, Erik & Kolstø, Stein Dankert (2019). Utforskende arbeidsmåter - en oversikt. In Knain, Erik & Kolstø, Stein Dankert (Ed.), Elever som forskere i naturfag. Universitetsforlaget. ISSN 9788215031446. Full text in Research Archive
  • Knain, Erik; Bjønness, Birgitte & Kolstø, Stein Dankert (2019). Rammer og støttestrukturer i utforskende arbeidsmåter. In Knain, Erik & Kolstø, Stein Dankert (Ed.), Elever som forskere i naturfag. Universitetsforlaget. ISSN 9788215031446. Full text in Research Archive
  • Mestad, Idar; Knain, Erik & Kolstø, Stein Dankert (2019). Utvikle faglig innsikt gjennom snakk, skriving og visuelle uttrykk. In Knain, Erik & Kolstø, Stein Dankert (Ed.), Elever som forskere i naturfag. Universitetsforlaget. ISSN 9788215031446. Full text in Research Archive
  • Bjønness, Birgitte & Knain, Erik (2018). A science teacher's complex beliefs about nature of scientific inquiry. Nordic Studies in Science Education (NorDiNa). ISSN 1504-4556. 14(1). doi: 10.5617/nordina.2676. Full text in Research Archive
  • Knain, Erik & Ødegaard, Marianne (2018). The Implementation of Scientific Literacy as Basic Skills in Norway After the School Reform of 2006. In Tang, Kok-Sing & Danielsson, Kristina (Ed.), Global Developments in Literacy Research for Science Education. Springer Nature. ISSN 9783319691961. p. 15–28. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-69197-8_2. Full text in Research Archive
  • Knain, Erik; Fredlund, Tobias; Furberg, Anniken Larsen; Mathiassen, Ketil; Remmen, Kari Beate & Ødegaard, Marianne (2017). Representing to learn in science education: Theoretical framework and analytical approaches. Acta Didactica Norge. 11(3), p. 22–22. doi: 10.5617/adno.4722. Full text in Research Archive
  • Nordby, Mette; Knain, Erik & Jonsdottir, Gudrun (2017). Vocational students' meaning-making in school science - negotiating authenticity through multimodal mobile learning :. Nordic Studies in Science Education (NorDiNa). ISSN 1504-4556. 13(1), p. 52–65. doi: 10.5617/nordina.2976. Full text in Research Archive
  • Knain, Erik (2016). En språkfundert kompetansemodell for planlegging av undervisning. Acta Didactica Norge. 10(1). doi: 10.5617/adno.2380. Full text in Research Archive
  • Byhring, Anne Kristine & Knain, Erik (2015). Intertextuality for Handling Complex Environmental Issues. Research in Science Education. ISSN 0157-244X. 46(1), p. 1–19. doi: 10.1007/s11165-014-9454-6. Full text in Research Archive
  • Nordby, Mette Synøve & Knain, Erik (2014). Elevers møte med komplekse utfordringer i digitalt [i.e. digitale] spill i naturfag :. Nordic Studies in Science Education (NorDiNa). ISSN 1504-4556. 10(2), p. 195–211. doi: 10.5617/nordina.779. Full text in Research Archive
  • Byhring, Anne Kristine & Knain, Erik (2014). Framing student dialogue and argumentation: Content knowledge development and procedural knowing in SSI inquiry group work. Nordic Studies in Science Education (NorDiNa). ISSN 1504-4556. 10(2), p. 146–161. doi: 10.5617/nordina.661. Full text in Research Archive
  • Albe, Virginie; Barrué, Catherine; Bencze, Larry; Byhring, Anne Kristine; Carter, Lyn & Grace, Marcus [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2014). Teachers’ beliefs, classroom practices and professional development towards socio-scientific issues. In Bruguière, Catherine; Tiberghien, Andree & Clément, Pierre (Ed.), Topics and Trends in Current Science Education. 9th ESERA Conference Selected Contributions. Springer. ISSN 9789400772809. p. 55–69. doi: 10.1007/978-94-007-7281-6_4. Full text in Research Archive
  • Knain, Erik & Klevenberg, Bente (2012). Bevegelse mellom praksis og teori i det tredje rom. In Melby, Guri & Matre, Synnøve (Ed.), Å skrive seg inn i læreryrket. Akademika forlag. ISSN 9788251928960. p. 113–129. Full text in Research Archive
  • Knain, Erik (2011). Hvordan åpne for vitenskapshistorie i naturfagundervisning? :. Nordic Studies in Science Education (NorDiNa). ISSN 1504-4556. 7(1), p. 32–42. doi: 10.5617/nordina.247. Full text in Research Archive
  • Mestad, Idar; Knain, Erik & Kolstø, Stein Dankert (2011). Begrepslæring gjennom snakk og skriving, Elever som forskere i naturfag. Universitetsforlaget. ISSN 9788215017334. p. 164–208. Full text in Research Archive
  • Knain, Erik; Bjønness, Birgitte & Kolstø, Stein Dankert (2011). Rammer og støttestrukturer i utforskende arbeidsmåter, Elever som forskere i naturfag. Universitetsforlaget. ISSN 9788215017334. p. 85–126. Full text in Research Archive
  • Knain, Erik & Kolstø, Stein Dankert (2011). Utforskende arbeidsmåter - en oversikt, Elever som forskere i naturfag. Universitetsforlaget. ISSN 9788215017334. p. 13–55. Full text in Research Archive

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Published Feb. 6, 2015 2:34 PM - Last modified Aug. 31, 2026 2:11 PM

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