Dr Holly Tootell is a Senior Lecturer in STEM Education at the University of Canberra and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA, 2024). She is also a mum of four fun-loving red-heads. Holly has over 20 years of experience in higher education and is an experienced researcher exploring the social impact of technology. She collaborates on projects addressing the adoption of AI in early childhood professional practice and has recently been awarded a grant to explore the impact of targeted mathematics interventions on maths fluency.

Holly’s work focuses on empowering the next generation of teachers to engage with STEM in ethical, meaningful ways. She believes that positive technology encounters for children and educators can create a much-needed social shift. Holly loves working in multidisciplinary teams and passionately believes that breakthroughs come from sharing and learning from each other, making STEM and technology-based research accessible to all.

Holly acknowledges the Ngunnawal people as the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which she lives and works and values the knowledge held in Country. She is committed to re-learning Australia’s history and deepening her understanding of First Nations perspectives.

Dr Holly Tootell is a Superstar of STEM.