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Carol Oliver is an Australian Astrobiologist. Dr Carol Oliver is an expert in astrobiology, online learning and evidence-based science communication.

Biography
Dr Carol Oliver is an Associate Professor at the University of New South Wales, in the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES) in the Faculty of Science. Oliver is Deputy Director of the Australian Centre for Astrobiology and a Senior Research Fellow at the University of New South Wales. She established the Mars Lab in the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS, the Powerhouse) in Sydney.

In partnership with NASA Learning Technologies, Oliver pioneered the first astrobiology-related three-dimensional immersive Virtual Field Trip. She has also worked with the NASA Astrobiology teams at Arizona State University and MIT to convert the Virtual Field Trip concept to new web technologies. Oliver also led an international team to create the Smart Science Initiative, which introduced adaptive e-learning into high schools.

The first third of her career was as a print, radio and television journalist and she has since done research work in science communication, publishing in education and science communication areas. In particular, in the areas of astrobiology and innovation in technology-enhanced online education.

Oliver began her academic career in 2008. Between 2010 and 2015 she won a total of $5.53m in three grants for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Two of the grants were used in two stages for the Mars Lab project at the Museum of Arts and Applied Sciences (the Powerhouse, Sydney), as an education project for high school students and a research facility. The Mars Lab was a national and international project in which students could plan Mars missions and drive experimental Mars rovers in the Mars Yard remotely from their classrooms. The third grant helped to transfer university developed technology-enabled adaptive e-learning into the high school environment.

Oliver is a UNSW PLuS Alliance Fellow, in which she works with colleagues at Arizona State University and King's College London to explore reimagining online education.

Oliver is an elected member of the Australian Academy of Sciences' National Committee on Space and Radio Science and was nominated for, and elected to, full membership of the International Academy of Astronautics in 2006.

Research and Grants
Dr Carol Oliver is a nationally and internationally known expert in astrobiology, online learning and evidee-based science communication.

Oliver has won $5.53m in Australian government Education and Outreach grants across three projects in Science Technology and Mathematics (STEM) between 2010 and 2015, and partnered with others across other projects.

Grants

 * 1) 2019-2022 - ARC Linkage (UNSW and Powerhouse Museum), Redefining the museum experience as an immersive networked narrative (CI). $466,150.
 * 2) 2016-2017 - UNSW Scientia Education Investment Fund, Intelligent and generic cross-platform virtual reality for next-generation student experiences: New frameworks for immersive pedagogy, (CI), $359k.
 * 3) 2015-2016 - UNSW Scientia Education Investment Fund, Enhancing a large online course using interactive web technology (CI), $278k.
 * 4) 2013-2014 - Australian Maths and Science Partnerships Program, Smart Science Initiative (PI), $1.64m.
 * 5) 2012-2015 - The Mars Lab, Broadband-Enabled Education and Skills Services Program (PI), $2.9m.
 * 6) 2010-2013 - Pathways to Space, Australian Space Research Program (PI), $987,573.
 * 7) 2005-2007 - Australian Schools Innovation in Science, Technology and Mathematics Program, $119,500, (CI)

Career
Current (UNSW):


 * Lead, Online Learning Development
 * Postgraduate Coursework Lead
 * School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES)
 * Education-focussed track; Senior Lecturer
 * PLuS Alliance Fellow Co-Lead
 * Online Learning and Innovation Community of Practice

Past roles:


 * 2017 – 2019 Postgraduate Coordinator (Candidature) BEES
 * 2012 – 2018 Deputy Director, Australian Centre for Astrobiology, UNSW
 * 2008 – 2010 Science communicator, Australian Centre for Astrobiology, UNSW
 * 2002 – 2007 Executive Officer, Australian Centre for Astrobiology, Macquarie University
 * 1994 – 2002 Science communicator, Western Sydney University
 * 2000 – 2002 Producer and reporter, 2SER radio science show Discovery
 * 1990 – 1994 Freelance science journalist, Australia
 * 1988 – 1989 Personal Finance Editor Your Money Oracle Teletext Service
 * 1979 – 1988 City, news and science reporter, Independent Television News
 * 1977 – 1979 Deputy chief sub-editor Portsmouth News
 * 1976 – 1977 Sub-editor and later deputy chief sub-editor Portsmouth News
 * 1972 – 1976 Features editor, Lincolnshire Standard Newspaper Group
 * 1971 – 1972 News reporter, Havering Recorder, Romford, Essex

Published works
If any, list the works organized by date of publication. See Charles Darwin for example.

Honours, decorations, awards and distinctions

 * PLuS Alliance Fellow and Co-Lead, UNSW Online Learning and Innovation Community of Practice.
 * Australian Centre for Astrobiology and Earth and Sustainable Sciences Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW
 * Senior Fellow UK Higher Education Academy
 * International Academy of Astronautics academician
 * Academic and Research Network (AARNet) 2014 Awardfor education excellence.
 * The Australian Innovation Challenge 2013 finalist in education excellence.
 * Staff excellence award, Western Sydney University, 2000.
 * American Field Service scholarship, 1966-1967.

Education

 * PhD, University of New South Wales(2008)
 * Master of Science Communication (by research), Central Queensland University (2003)