Mrs Maria Townsend

Professional biography

I am a Staff tutor and Senior Lecturer in the School of Engineering and Innovation within the Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. 

I started my role as a Staff Tutor in 2019, after tutoring on environment, engineering and science modules as an Associate Lecturer between 2002 and 2019.  During this time, I also had extensive experience of writing, and supporting others to write, online quizzes for OpenLearn Badged Open Courses (BOCs) and AL representation. Before a career break, I worked as a controls engineer in the building services industry. Although, I started my career in engineering I have subsequently moved into the environment, which is now my main area of interest. I am now also the Deputy Director of Teaching for E&I.

Research interests

• Improving student experience of tutorials.
• Ecoanxiety

Teaching interests

I am module chair of U116 (J presentation) Environment: journeys through a changing world, and was on the module production team for T220 (Environmental Management: Systems and Sustainability). My main teaching interests are wide and varied as they focus on environmental education and 'embedding' sustainabilty thinking in a meaningful way in other discipline areas.