Honorary Fellow in the Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne

Member:
Science Teachers Association of Victoria (STAV)
Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT)

BSc(Hons) (Melb)
Dip Ed (Melb)
PhD (Melb)

Maurizio is the subject coordinator for the Science Learning Area (485–131) taken by pre-service secondary teachers in the Graduate Diploma of Education. He also teaches in the Science and Technology II (485–349/355) and Science and Technology III programs (485–448/455) for third and fourth year Bachelor of Education (Primary) students, respectively. In semester two 2007, he will coordinate and teach the postgraduate subject 'Big Science in the Small Classroom' (485-610).

His research interests cover:
* The use of Thought Experiments in Science Education
* The cultural significance of Physics and Astronomy in Science Education
* Translation of epistemological issues from the Philosophy of Science into Science Education
* Improving the level of participation of girls in post-compulsory physics courses
* Exploring the imagination space in Science Education
* Aesthetics and Science Education

Toscano, M. (2006) 'Thought Experiments in Science Education and the Philosophy of Science', Proceedings of epiSTEME: International Science Technology Education and Mathematics Educations Conference, Homi Bahbah Centre for Science Education, Mumbai, India, accepted.

Toscano M. (2006) 'The Place of Thought Experiments in Science Education', Proceedings of the Australasian Science Education Research Association, accepted.

Fawns, R., Redman C., Toscano M. and Woolnough, J. (2006) 'Problems of Interpretation: The Secret Life of Things in Early Science Education', Proceedings of the Australasian Science Education Research Association, accepted.

Toscano, M. (2004) 'The Objective-Subjective Distinction in Analyses of Discourse', Proceedings of the CSMEE Symposium: Contemporary Approaches to Research in Mathematics, Science, Health and Environmental Education. Deakin University Melbourne, December 2004.

Toscano, M., Grant, G., and Quin, B. (2001) 'Overview of the Value Landscape', Policy is not a Dirty Word (Melbourne: Youth Research Centre, University of
Melbourne), Ed. Holdsworth, R., p. 8.

Toscano, M. (2001) 'Celestial Timekeepers', Proceedings of the Third International Conference on the Inspiration of Astronomical Phenomena (Rome: Memorie della Societá Astronomica Italiana) Ed. Coyne, G. V., et al., pp. 283-286.

Stappers, B. W., Bailes, M., Lyne, A. G., Camilo, F., Manchester, R. N., Sandhu, J. S. Toscano, M., and Bell, J. F. (2001) 'The Nature of the PSR J2051–0827 Eclipses', Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society,
Volume 321, Issue 3, pp. 576–584.

Liffmann, K., and Toscano, M. (2000) 'Chondrule Fine-Grained Mantle Formation by Hypervelocity Impact of Chondrules with a Dusty Gas', Icarus, Volume 143, pp. 106–125.

Liffmann, K., and Toscano, M. (2000) 'Chondrule Fine-Grained Mantle Formation by Hypervelocity Impact of Chondrules with a Dusty Gas', Thirty-first Annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, March 13–17, Houston,
Texas.

Britton, M., van Straten, W., Bailes, M., Toscano, M., and Manchester, R. N. (1999) 'High Precision Timing of PSR J0437–4715', Pulsar Astronomy – 2000 and Beyond, ASP Conference Series, Vol. 202. (San Francisco: ASP). Ed. Kramer, M., Wex, N., and Wielebinski, N., p. 73.

Toscano, M., Britton, M. C., Manchester, R. N., Bailes, M., Sandhu, J. S., Kulkarni, S. R., and Anderson, S. B. (1999) 'Parallax of PSR J1744–1134 and the Local Interstellar Medium', The Astrophysical Journal Letters, Volume 523, Issue 2, pp. L171–L175.

Toscano, M., Sandhu, J. S., Bailes, M., Manchester, R. N., Britton, M. C., Kulkarni, S. R., and Anderson, S. B., and Stappers, B. W. (1999) 'Millisecond Pulsar Velocities', Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Volume 307, Issue 4, pp. 925–933.

Toscano, M., Bailes, M., Manchester, R. N., Britton, M. C., and Sandhu, J. S. (1998) 'Spectra of Southern Pulsars',
The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 506, Issue 2, pp. 863-867.

Stappers, B. W., Bailes, M., Manchester, R. N., Sandhu, J. S., and Toscano, M. (1998) 'The Orbital Evolution and Proper Motion of PSR J2051–0827', Astrophysical Journal Letters, Volume 499, p. L183.

Kempner, J. C., Stinebring, D. R., Bailes, M., Toscano, M., Britton, M. C., van Straten, W., Novikov, S., and Wietfeldt, R. (1997) 'No Giant Pulses or Diffraction Pattern Found in Sub-millisecond Observations of PSR J0437–4715', American Astronomical Society Meeting, 191, #111.19.

Current Projects:

Investigating Thought Experiments in the Science Classroom (2007) Funded by a University of Melbourne Early Career Research grant.

Employing the imagination to run experiments in our heads is as old as science. Yet, despite the ubiquity of thought experiments in science, and the many claims about their value to science education, no significant investigation into the nature, extent and effectiveness of thought experimentation in the classroom has been done. This project will undertake the field work needed to fill this gap in our understanding about the importance of imagination, analogic reasoning, metaphor and modeling in learning science. The project will begin a program to re-define what counts as science in the classroom and produce new learning tools for science students and teachers.

Syzygy (2007-2008) Funded by an Arts Victoria Innovation grant.

Syzygy: a collaboration between the celebrated artist Harry Nankin of the International College of Contemporary Art, the distinguished historian, writer, cultural theorist and artist, Professor Paul Carter from the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning (University of Melbourne), and myself. The Syzygy project will literally collect the 'light of the universe' with a parabolic array of mirrors in order to create a sequence of exquisite jewel-like translucent photographic images on film metaphorically ‘reflecting’ Lake Tyrrell (in the Victorian Mallee) as it is, as it once was and as it might be imagined.

Past Projects:

Girls in Physics: An ASISTM Project (DEST grant) (2005-2006)

Amazing Space: A Science in Schools Project (DEET grant) (2001-2003)